A Response to Criticism of Democrats who Voted in Favor of President Bush's Iraq War Resolution

By Gerry Senda

Democratic Senators and Representatives voted for the threat of war not the war of choice that President Bush intended.

I would like to take this opportunity to appeal for Democratic Unity. Dr. Dean and Gen. Clark have sharply criticized the Bush Administration for its war on Iraq as speciously substantiated. As a veteran of the Vietnam War (helicopter pilot, 1971) I agree with that criticism whole- heartedly and I personally participated in the anti-war demonstrations, registering young voters while there. But Dr. Dean has criticized Senator Kerry and Rep. Gephardt for their votes allowing military action, "if necessary." I disagree with that criticism because I believe that it is divisive to the Democratic Party and our ability to take back the White House. By definition, it is necessary to maintain a position of strength in order to coerce ruthless dictators such as Saddam Hussein or Hitler or Idi Amin to change their behavior, and in the case of Iraq, to allow the U.N. weapons inspectors to finish their job, which they were close to doing. The fact that we activists knew, probably along with most Democratic Senators and Representatives, that the Bush administration was misrepresenting the facts is a separate issue. Senators and Representatives were virtually obligated to support the President on this very volatile issue.

The Congress voted for the threat of war, not war itself. President Bush deliberately deceived the American people so that his administration could wage a war of aggrandizement for themselves and for profit for his and Vice President Cheney's cronies.