I don’t really know what were the exact reasons and motivations of President Bush and the other members of the government who made the decision to go to war. I don’t think of Bush as the evil schemer, bumbling idiot, or cartoonish villain he’s often portrayed as. VERY few wars in human history have the sort of clear cut moral high ground that I think can fairly be associated with World War II or the post-911 war in Afghanistan.

I think the argument about whether we should have gone is moot. I don’t want to see us abandon the job when we have a very real ability to complete it. I have great faith in Gen. Patraeus and the new tactics and strategy that have proven so successful since the surge began. I want us to support this effort wholeheartedly and really make it work.

I do think that we must get the Iraqi government to live up to its commitments. The momentum we’ve gained with the surge will eventually be lost if we don’t succeed on this front.

In short, I think this is the time to pull out all the stops, because we are finally winning and you don’t abandon success, you reinforce it. It will be a tough job though, and the political battlefield at this stage is probably more important than the military one.

I fully support all our troops and wish them God’s speed. May they all get home safely, and victoriously.

-David Melton, San Jose, CA