Jane Delanko – 10/8/06

This page was last updated on October 8, 2006.

Get out of Iraq now; Jane V. Delanko; Beaver County Times; October 8, 2006.

This is at least the fourth letter from Ms. Delanko on this subject since May 2005. The previous letters were entitled “Bring our troops home,” “Bring the troops home,” and “Listen to the generals.”

This letter is nothing more than a series of statements and Ms. Delanko makes no effort to substantiate them.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“The streets of Baghdad are unsettled. There is no progress.

“The Iraqi soldiers aren’t doing their job. In one of the many incidents, in which the Iraqi soldiers were supposed to block escape routes while Americans searched for weapons, they didn’t even show up. When they did show up, they let cars pass through checkpoints putting our American military in danger.”

[RWC] If “Iraqi soldiers aren’t doing their job,” why are they taking over control of areas from Coalition forces?

“They would wise up fast if our military would pull out. We need our people to protect our borders.”

[RWC] Ms. Delanko had better check with her party. Based on their actions – not their words, Democrat leadership believes in open borders.

“Too many of the Iraqis are committed to their religious beliefs instead of the government.”

[RWC] I’m no expert in Islam, but what’s going on in Iraq is no more about religion than was the terrorism in Ireland.

“I’m tired of reading about mortar attacks, roadside bombings and shootings.”

[RWC] Who isn’t?

“Our troops were sent to fight a war without the best equipment.”

[RWC] That’s BS. Name a better-equipped military, Ms. Delanko.

“Too many facts are hidden from the American people.”

[RWC] Like what, Ms. Delanko?

“The truth is yet to be known. Our generals feel that Rumsfeld must be replaced.”

[RWC] Ms. Delanko is regurgitating her “Listen to the generals” letter.

“The rebuilding of Iraq is just costing too much money. The contractors are making millions, and the money paid is a waste. They aren’t rebuilding with the proper materials, and buildings are falling apart.”

[RWC] As with the rest of her assertions, Ms. Delanko didn’t cite her source.

“We need to rebuild in our own country with our roads, and bridges and the hurricane damage.”

[RWC] These are state and local responsibilities, not federal.

“To pull out isn’t admitting defeat, it’s just good judgment. We must bring our military home. Some comments were made like we will destroy ourselves, and with all the young people in this war being killed, it’s something to think about.”

[RWC] Leave it to a liberal to assert to cut and run “isn’t admitting defeat.” Even if it weren’t, it doesn’t matter what we think. Our enemies would credit themselves with a victory and it would embolden them. This isn’t speculation; it’s fact. We know that from terrorist statements back at least as far as when we ran from Somalia in 1993.