Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives pulled a stunt last Friday that can be likened to the actions of a child throwing a tantrum.

In an attempt to divide Democrats over the war in Iraq, Republicans rushed the legislative chamber into voting on a hastily conceived resolution to immediately withdraw troops from the conflict.

The action taken by House Republicans was spurred by recent comments by Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Penn. Last week, Rep. Murtha, a usually hawkish legislator and a decorated combat veteran, essentially called for a plan of action to end U.S. involvement in Iraq. His remarks initiated the latest culmination of Capitol Hill's ever-present tension over the current U.S. quagmire in the Middle East, and the Republican response was one of stubbornness.

Calling for a vote on the most illogical and impractical plan imaginable to end U.S. involvement in Iraq, Republican congressmen essentially forced their legislative chamber into a vote offering no true choice. Representatives could vote to either blindly continue the aimless and futile path set by President George W. Bush or instantly bring home troops. No sensible plan for an end to the war was offered.

Of all their irresponsible actions over the past five years, the proposal of Friday's resolution might be the single most immature, pathetic and morally reprehensible act committed by Republicans since their seizure of control in Washington. Corrupted by their own power, Republicans have lowered the level of public discourse in the United States to the point that a minority party cannot so much as question the leadership, even on a matter as serious as a war that has killed thousands of people. Republicans' refusals to even address the Iraq war is absolutely despicable, and the American people must — to use the language of President Bush himself — bring the driving forces behind last week's resolution to justice, holding them accountable for any future bloodshed that occurs in Iraq.

Since its inception, planning for the war in Iraq has been incredibly short-sighted. As a private citizen with little insight into the war's planning, it is incredibly tempting to assume that at least the slightest obstacles to the Bush administration's plan for invasion were anticipated and accounted for. On the contrary, the last two years have proven just how half-baked Mr. Donald Rumsfeld's battle plans were. Rather than marching into Baghdad casualty-free, amid adoring Iraqis, and instantaneously implement a strong, democratic central government, U.S. troops have discovered what the Bush administration apparently never imagined: the invasion of a foreign country to tear down one government and create another in a three-week period can be somewhat difficult.

It is easy to sit back and criticize how the war in Iraq has been approached thus far. It is even easier to criticize the fact that a war in Iraq was ever approached at all. Unfortunately, doing either of these proves a waste of time with regard to the ongoing issues presented by the conflict. This is why many Democrats have begun to offer plans to bring direction to U.S. involvement in Iraq. Pointing fingers won't fix the damage that has been done, but changing course might limit the damage that is yet to be done. Why, then, do Republicans continually squash any Democratic attempts to even discuss the issue?

The answers offered by the Bush administration and Republican legislators to questions about the war in Iraq are repetitive and dismissive. More than two years after the Iraq conflict was declared "mission accomplished" by President Bush, it is nauseating to repeatedly hear the same combat rhetoric recited in response to any mention of the war. One almost wonders whether Americans will still be urged to simply "stay the course" eight years from now.

Playing politics is always irresponsible, but playing politics with a matter of life and death is evil. If Republicans cannot soon bring themselves to have a meaningful discussion regarding the future of U.S. involvement in Iraq, no improvement in the war can be expected.

Americans are beginning to sour on the war. If Republicans don't start to answer important questions in Congress, they'll have to answer to voters in 2006.

Rob Rossmeissl ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in journalism and political science.