Editorial: Sestak shows spine by sticking neck out on Iraq

February 09, 2007

Editorial of the DelCo Times

Overwhelming numbers of Americans, in public opinion polls, say it’s time to scale back the country’s involvement in Iraq and turn over control to the Iraqis themselves. Majorities think the 132,000 U.S. troops stationed there should come home before more named are added to the list of more than 3,100 brave men and women who have lost their lives.

President Bush didn’t get that message. Instead, he decided to send more than 20,000 more troops to Baghdad in a last-ditch effort to turn the tide of the war and save his own legacy.

After a 12-year stint in the political wilderness, the Democrats who are now running the Congress are treading carefully. Wary of being labeled soft on terrorism, they’re trying to figure out how to express their disgust with Bush’s policies while still supporting the troops.

Floating around Washington are various versions of non-binding resolutions - some even written by Republicans - disagreeing with the troop escalation. Some set strict goals for the Iraqis to meet before a troop pullout begins. Some threaten loss of funding for the so-called "surge" but not the entire war effort itself.

U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7 of Newtown, will have none of that. The retired Navy admiral on Thursday introduced his own measure, and it goes far beyond what the more timid members of his party are proposing.

Sestak’s binding resolution calls for the withdrawal of almost all U.S. troops by Dec. 31, 2007, and cuts off funding for most military operations beyond that date.

"Don’t double down on a bad military bet by using more troops," Sestak said this week on the floor of the House.

"Set a date certain -- this year -- to serve as the leverage to have the Iraqis accept the reality of the personal consequence of not assuming responsibility for their nation."

Sestak’s measure is getting a cool reception inside the Beltway. Fellow Democrats want to build a consensus opposing the broad outlines of the Bush administration policy before getting into firm deadlines for troop withdrawals.

But taking a firm stand against the war was a cornerstone of Sestak’s campaign that last year ousted 10-term incumbent Curt Weldon, a Thornbury Republican who was an Iraqi war cheerleader for most of the last four years.

Sestak’s military credentials have already made him a leading Democratic spokesman on defense issues.

His background is his credibility. That’s why he can go where too many Democrats, and Republicans, yet fear to tread.

Agree with his convictions or not, Delaware County’s newest member of Congress is proving to be a man of his word. And that’s a quality that’s all too rare in the swamp that is Washington.