email to Rep. John Barrow

John Barrow represents the 12th congressional district in Georgia. Here is an email I sent him this morning Wednesday 17 January 2007:


Dear Congressman Barrow,

It does not take a high powered analyst to deduce that President Bush's plan to surge troops into Baghdad and Anbar does not have a chance in hell of succeeding. A truck bomb in Kirkuk today and previous indications that this disputed oil rich city and region would be another flashpoint have been clearly evident for some time. President Bush offers no reality based evidence for his belief that his plan will succeed. I guarantee it won't.

Therefore, Congressman Barrow, what is the duty of the patriotic and informed opposition in this country? I wrote you December 15, 2006 asking that you support an immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq. You replied you cannot support an immediate withdrawal or arbitrary timetable. I dispute your use of the word "arbitrary" but you did say you support a "blueprint" and a series of "benchmarks" for what we hope to accomplish in Iraq. I say your choice of those words and the concepts behind them are nebulous and arbitrary in themselves. You also say you support training more Iraqis. For what? So they can be better killers in their respective militias?

Sometimes whittling at the margins is effective. I understand your district and your
position - and I will continue to support you - but my support is not without limits. I support defunding the failed U.S. war in Iraq. This was done in Vietnam. I support Rep. Dennis Kucinich's efforts and Rep. Walter Jones' efforts and Sen. Christopher Dodds' efforts. Kucinich wants to cut funds, not to undermine the troops - there should be plenty of funding to keep them safe and to get them out of harms way - but to limit any escalation or expansion of this war. It is time to de-escalate. I support Rep. Walter Jones' legislation demanding that the Commander-in-Chief get Congressional approval before attacking Iran, and I support Sen. Chris Dodd's legislation that Congress authorize any surge of additional U.S. troops into Iraq.

Peace out, Congressman Barrow, peace out. As long as I live I will not forget how you vote on upcoming legislation related to the U.S. war in Iraq.

Respecfully yours,
John Randolph Hardison Cain