Sen. Chuck Hagel on Iraq Debate: ‘Cut and Run’…Debase the Seriousness of War

Senator Chuck Hagel Republican of Nebraska on the Senate floor during the Iraq war debate.

Congress fails in its duty when we do not probe, when we fail, we do not ask tough questions, and we fail when we do not debate the gate issues of our day. There is no issue more important than war. The war in Iraq is the defining issue on which this Congress and the administration will be judged. The American people want to see serious debate about serious issues from serious leaders. They deserve more than a political debate. This debate should transcend cynical attempts to turn public frustration with the war in Iraq into an electoral advantage. It should be taken more seriously than to simply retreat into focus-group tested buzz words and phrases like “cut and run,” catchy political slogans that debase the seriousness of war. War’s not a partisan issue, Mr. President. It should not be held hostage to political agendas. War should not be drug down into the political muck. America deserves better. Our men and women fighting and dying deserve better.

The Republican controlled Congress along with Democratic help has failed the American people, mostly of all the troops on the ground. It’s no longer a foreign policy debate between reasonable people. It has become a Conservative campaign to bash rivals and critics in order to hold on to their political power.

"Americans trust the Republicans to do a better job of keeping our communities and our families safe," Mr. Rove said in a luncheon speech at the winter meeting of the Republican National Committee. "We can also go to the country on this issue because they trust the Republican Party to do a better job of protecting and strengthening America's military might and thereby protecting America."

The well-known Karl Rove quote during 2002 elections proves this has always been a domestic policy issue to Conservatives politicians and like all domestic issues for Republicans it is use to condemn Democrats and to enrich their donors.

Conservatism has failed, Conservatives politicians only have slogans to offer. The seriousness of war has to wait for a time that serious people are in charge, what ever happen the grown ups?