The Need for Serious Debate on Iraq

Congress fails in its duty when we do not probe, when we fail, we do not ask tough questions, and we fail when we do not debate the gate issues of our day. There is no issue more important than war. The war in Iraq is the defining issue on which this Congress and the administration will be judged. The American people want to see serious debate about serious issues from serious leaders. They deserve more than a political debate. This debate should transcend cynical attempts to turn public frustration with the war in Iraq into an electoral advantage. It should be taken more seriously than to simply retreat into focus-group tested buzz words and phrases like “cut and run,” catchy political slogans that debase the seriousness of war. War’s not a partisan issue, Mr. President. It should not be held hostage to political agendas.

The above words are those of Republican Senator Chuck Hagel who spoke on the floor of the Senate today (via Think Progress). The only thing I'll add is that our country needs more than a dozen Republicans in the House and a handful of Republicans in the Senate to speak out on the growing failures and paralysis of Bush's foreign policy.