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Vote “No” on war referendum

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by Guest Columnist

Tuesday, April 4, 2006

"Now is relative … It's not like we're suggesting we take every plane in the U.S., run over there, and say, 'Okay, everybody on board, we're going home right now."

This statement from Rachel Friedman, an organizer of the anti-war protest in Madison held March 18, seems to contradict the rhetoric, rationale and need for the Bring the Troops Home Now movement and referendum. Why are anti-war groups calling for our troops out of Iraq now if now is relative? Heck, why is this even on the ballot in Madison or in any of the various communities across the state of Wisconsin if this is all "relative?"

This proposal is not relative to our servicemen and -women, or to their families. This is real life. This referendum has consequences. This will affect our soldiers' morale and influence how we debate foreign policy in future elections and possibly influence policymakers' decisions.

Wisconsin is being used as a test case for these "Bring the Troops Home Now" referendums. If these referendums pass, then these referendums will begin popping up all across the country as a means of diminishing public support for this war, in addition to being a slap in the face to our military overseas.

A perverse satisfaction is what supporters of the anti-war movement are seeking when they call for troops home now. They want to embarrass the president and belittle American foreign policy and say, "See, I told you so!" But this referendum debate is not about whether we should have gone into Iraq in the first place. It is about how we handle the situation now that we are in Iraq and how we can make things better for the Iraqi people.

Colin Powell, Secretary of State when the United States went into Iraq in 2003 and the most vocal anti-Iraq War member of Bush's Cabinet, reminded the president when Saddam Hussein's regime fell that Iraq would be the United States' responsibility. John Kerry reminded the nation of this again, when during a 2004 presidential debate he said, "You break it, you fix it." Republicans and Democrats agree that we need to keep our promises to rebuild Iraq and create a strong democratic political system there. Pulling out now would be hypocritical and disastrous.

Iraq has held three successful elections since the fall of Saddam's regime, each with higher voter turnouts than most Western democracies experience. We need to stand by the Iraqis in the challenging transition to a constitutional democracy. As Iraq moves toward political and military self-sufficiency, we will be able to draw down our troops. Having another ally in the Middle East is essential to our long-run security as well.

A yes vote signifies personal disagreement with this president. Even though we can all agree that war is difficult and costly in both human and financial terms, we must be careful to use our heads as well as our hearts when thinking through these important issues. Although some may want to cast this vote as a signal to President Bush of discontent, beware of what this referendum — if passed — would say to America's enemies throughout the world.

Before casting your vote today, ask yourself a few questions. If we pull the troops out of Iraq now, or before the Iraqis have the stable democracy they deserve, what are we accomplishing? Will this move make the world any safer for democracy and freedom? Will we prevent terrorism? What message will we be sending the world?

We must remember the adage, "Rome wasn't built in a day." Iraq must have time to transition and rebuild. Our soldiers are doing valiant work and we need to support them. Forget this whole now nonsense and put this referendum into perspective. American soldiers should come home when the job is done.

Jordan Smith is a UW senior and chair of UW College Republicans.

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Anonymous (April 4, 2006 @ 8:11am):

What a surprise... Jordan defends a war that she refuses to fight in.

Anonymous (April 4, 2006 @ 9:31am):

to say that we wish to bring our troops home is not saying we dont support our troops. it is saying that the administration is not giving the troops the support necessary to protect our country and the lives of said troops. in a region that wants nothing to do with the US we must gradually begin pulling out immediately hence where the now part comes into play. we must start pulling out now and give more control over internal affairs of iraq to the iraqis only then can they be this free society we supposedly created for them because right now all iraq is is an american colony.

Anonymous (April 4, 2006 @ 10:48am):

>>This referendum has consequences. This will affect our soldiers' morale and influence how we debate foreign policy in future elections and possibly influence policymakers' decisions.<<

I'm pretty sure people against the referendum have spent a lot of time saying how useless it would be.

>>If these referendums pass, then these referendums will begin popping up all across the country as a means of diminishing public support for this war<<

A referendum is more of a poll of the already diminishing support for the war. That's not a cause and effect there.

>>in addition to being a slap in the face to our military overseas.<<

Because the military has never had to deal with a lack of public support for a war before...

>>Iraq has held three successful elections since the fall of Saddam's regime, each with higher voter turnouts than most Western democracies experience.<<

Yet months later, they still haven't actually formed a government and Condoleeza Rice is over there encouraging them to do so.

>>Although some may want to cast this vote as a signal to President Bush of discontent, beware of what this referendum -- if passed -- would say to America's enemies throughout the world.<<

You know what it says? It says we don't all support the idiot who started a war that's killed thousands of people. We have a democracy here too and we're still allowed to express our discontent. When you start saying that we shouldn't speak against the government just because the enemies would like it, you start sounding an awful lot like those enemies yourself.

Anonymous (April 4, 2006 @ 11:14am):

"A yes vote signifies personal disagreement with this president."

Well then, there's my vote.

Anonymous (April 4, 2006 @ 11:39am):

Silly man, they don't want or deserve a stable democracy. Why waste our lives, time and dollars trying to force something upon them.

Anonymous (April 4, 2006 @ 1:48pm):

"What a surprise... Jordan defends a war that she refuses to fight in."

THAT tired old canard?

I'm for fighting fires but that doesn't mean I have to join the Fire Department, DOES IT?

I'm for fighting crime but that doesn't mean I have to join the Police Department, DOES IT?

Anonymous (April 4, 2006 @ 2:21pm):

"We must remember the adage, 'Rome wasn't built in a day.'"

There's a BBC sitcom from the early 80's called "Yes, Minister," about a British cabinet minister and the head bureaucrat in his department. The source of conflict in the series was when the minister's desire to get things done clashed with the bureaucrat's desire to avoid change at all costs. The phrase "Rome wasn't built in a day" was one of the bureaucrat's stock phrases when he wanted to excuse his delays and lack of results.

What's my point? It was a lame excuse good for a laugh in the show, and it's a lame excuse good for a laugh today.

Yellow Elephant (April 4, 2006 @ 3:48pm):

If UW College Republicans President Jordan Smith really wants to Support Our Troops, she'll sign up to "Try One," the U.S. Army's new 15-month enlistment, and start after she graduates.

Anonymous (April 4, 2006 @ 4:32pm):

We've succeded in bringing democracy to Germany and Japan but we have had troops there for over 60 years. Maybe we should give Iraq a little more time - maybe even as long as it took for the USA to put together a constitutiona and government?

Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 2:34am):

I'd love to see Jordan Smith enroll.

Bob Crichton (April 5, 2006 @ 10:08am):

"I'm for fighting fires but that doesn't mean I have to join the Fire Department, DOES IT?"

Nor should you be an arsonist. You WANTED this war, you BEGGED for this war, now you whine when your own unwillingness to fight is pointed out.

Something I learned early in the service - if something has to be done, you DO IT, and worry about whose job it is later. That's how fires get put out on shipboard - not that you would know.

But since you can't recognize the concept of doing what needs to be done unless there's something in it for you, how can we trust your views on what needs to be done?