Congressional and Executive Branch Leadership Failures

The GWOT (or call it what you will) is underway. The conflict and armed hostilities continue globally. The lack of a unified purpose and war strategy among the House of Representatives, the US Senate, and the Executive branches of our government are a complete abdication of their governing responsibilities. Moreover, it strengthens the resolve of our enemies and places the Armed Forces of The United States in clear and present mortal danger.

Since WWII, the Congress and Executive Branch have avoided a Declaration of War when we commit US Troops in a protracted campaign such as Korea, RVN and now Iraq and Afghanistan. We should insist on a Constitutional Amendment to prevent this. Designating and assigning specific war powers will serve as a way to keep responsibilities sorted out.

This war was not started by American soldiers. The House, the Senate, and the Executive Branches all voted overwhelmingly to initiate this war. It is now their responsibility to conclude hostilities appropriately and with honor.

In the past 90 days Congress, again by an overwhelming margin, voted for the General Petreaus' surge plan and other battlefield strategies and tactics. Next they voted to appoint Petreaus to a fourth star to provide him with the authority to get the job done. Now that same Congress has voted to jerk the rug out from under that plan.

This unseemly congressional Flip-Flop represents a mental disorder of great concern. We the people of The United States must demand that our elected officials perform their duties with distinction. The very same American politicians who bicker and complain the loudest because Iraq's politicians are ineffective are themselves ineffective. Worse - the ineffective impasse and frozen state of current American politics makes our policies weak, ineffective and even laughable in foreign capitols.

The votes of American politicians have led us to a critical crossroads. Clearly it is the responsibility of those same politicians to find an end. One that serves the security needs of the nation and preserves the dignity, strength and cohesiveness of our Armed Forces.

The definition of treason is to assist our country's enemies in a war. The current state of American politics provides aid and comfort to our enemies. Ditto for the public congressional Flip-Flop.

It is time for each of us as citizens to demand accountability from those who led us into this morass with their votes. We don't need any more of an endless litany of investigations of underlings, all intended to shroud and camouflage what are really congressional and executive branch leadership failures.

We must individually insist that our elected and appointed officials toil tirelessly, not to continue to attempt to wipe themselves clean, but to preserve our nation's security and dignity while maintaining the utmost respect and concern for our Armed Forces, their families, and their sacrifices.

In war, the unforgivable cardinal sin is to fail to take action when action is warranted and appropriate. Our elected leaders must take action to end their own impasse and we must take action to ensure they do.

Mike Linnane