3-10-06, 9:54 am

Are they traitors helping the enemy? Right-wing pundits, Bush administration officials, and hardcore Republican true believers (if there are any left) think that anyone who disagrees with the Bush administration about its war policy gives aid and comfort to the enemy.

Perhaps the findings of a new poll might put such nonsense to bed. A recent survey of U.S. troops in Iraq shows that 72 percent believe the U.S. should withdraw from the country within the next year. The poll conducted by LeMoyne College and Zogby International taken from members of different branches of the military at the end of January through mid-February.

Nearly 3 in 10 respondents said the U.S. should leave Iraq 'immediately.' More than 2 in 10 said they should be withdrawn in six months, and another 21 percent added that the troops should be pulled out between six and 12 months from now.

Reserve and National Guard respondents offered stronger opinions on troop withdrawal than did members of the regular services. Between 82 and 89 percent of the former said U.S. troops should be pulled out of Iraq within a year. Of the regular services, 58 percent of Marines agreed, while seven in ten of those in the regular Army thought the U.S. should leave Iraq in the next year. Reservists and National Guard service members also favored faster withdrawal in higher numbers.

The survey also presented a mixed picture on what was being accomplished in Iraq. Over 4 in 10 respondents said that the U.S. mission in Iraq 'is either somewhat or very unclear to them' or that they have 'no understanding' of it at all, or are 'unsure.'

Three quarters of the troops had served multiple tours and had a longer exposure to the conflict: 26 percent were on their first tour of duty, 45 percent were on their second tour, and 29 percent were in Iraq for a third time or more. The survey included 944 military respondents interviewed at several undisclosed locations throughout Iraq. Why the war was started is also fuzzy. Most respondents to the survey indicated that had believed the Bush administration's erroneous reasons for launching the invasion. According to the survey results, 85 percent said the U.S. mission is mainly 'to retaliate for Saddam’s role in the 9-11 attacks,' and 77 percent said they also believe the main or a major reason for the war was 'to stop Saddam from protecting al Qaeda in Iraq.'

Both reasons have since been shown to be misleading claims for justifying the nearly three-year old war. Despite Bush administration pronouncements, no evidence was ever offered that Saddam was involved in the 9/11 attacks, and CIA and other foreign intelligence sources have discredited Bush administration claims that a meaningful link ever existed between Al-Qaeda and the Saddam regime in Iraq. Though, a meaningful link between Iraq and Al-Qaeda now exists since the U.S. has occupied that country.

Large majorities of the troops who responded to the survey also seemed to indicate that the administration hadn’t been fully honest with the people or Congress about why he wanted the war. Nearly unanimously, troops do not believe removing WMD was the real reason for the war, and only 1 in 4 thought establishing a model democratic country was the real reason.

We owe it to our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, children and friends to end this immoral, illegal war. Their lives are at stake. It is time to bring them home. Urge your representatives to join a growing call in Congress to force the President to set a date and bring the troops home. You can write by e-mail: House: Senate:



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