"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.