I think we can all agree that success in Iraq is the only option.  Allowing Iraq to fall into a full scale civil war which results in Iraq breaking up into individual parts will undermine our security, the security of our friends and allies in the region, and could provide terrorists with a safe-haven from which to plot, train, and execute terrorist attacks.  However, my number one priority is the safety of our men and women serving in our Armed Forces. 

We cannot succeed in Iraq without more participation from Iraqis. Trained and mature Iraqi forces must step-up and into the fight.  There are a number of peaceful Iraqi provinces; we should require the Iraq Ministry of Defense to move the Iraqi brigades from these provinces and into the fight.  The enormous U.S. effort in Iraq has brought a sovereign government into existence, and in return, Iraq should make this commitment to the people of this country. 

There are some members of Congress who believe that slashing funding from our troops is an effective way to end this war.  They couldn’t be more wrong.  The last thing we should do is pull money out from underneath our men and women – in a time of war – fighting for our freedom.