“My name is Mark Jacobsen and I live in Williamsburg Iowa. I am a past member of the US Army and the US Army Reserve. I think the troops are doing a wonderful job. I think there have been some mistakes but everything is on track now. I believe it would be a terrible disservice to those who have given their blood and in some cases their lives to abandon these wars now. I know it is hard to fight against a group who blends into the population rather than putting on a uniform and standing their ground but the Democratic process is working and the People of these countries by enlarge know we are there to help not hinder them. People say “we should get out we have been there long enough”. To these people I say “Aren’t we still in Germany, Japan and Korea? How long ago was victory declared in those countries? Why didn’t we just pack up our people and equipment from there when the fighting was done? Has it been a benefit to those countries and the world at large for us to continue to be there?” I think it has been and continues to serve a purpose. Let the troops stay till the dust settles and things run on their own, with less and less involvement from us in the day to day but so surrounding countries and the people of Iraq and Afghanistan know we will support them if needed.”

-Mark Jacobsen, Williamsburg, IA