"I was wrong....It was a mistake to vote for this war in 2002. I take responsibility for that mistake."
In today's Washington Post, Senator John Edwards is telling you that if he knew then what we all know now about the deeply flawed and politically manipulated intelligence, he never would have voted for the Iraq resolution in 2002.
It was a mistake to vote for this war in 2002. I take responsibility for that mistake. It has been hard to say these words because those who didn't make a mistake — the men and women of our armed forces and their families — have performed heroically and paid a dear price. The world desperately needs moral leadership from America, and the foundation for moral leadership is telling the truth.
This could never have been easy for Senator Edwards to admit. Most political leaders in Washington still won't admit what we all can see - that they were mistaken. I admire Senator Edwards' honesty and humility. He's a man of outstanding moral character. It isn't the first time he's publically communicated his regret, and it may not be the last. It isn't so much the regret that we should focus upon - instead it is the ideas for bringing our troops home with full honor intact and with something we can all identify as "success" brought to Iraq that should be in focus.
I'd like all of my readers to put themselves in the position of being a responsible leader. All of you who've been calling for the troops to be sent home - what would you honestly do if you suddenly came to power? I've heard a lot of cocky answers on both sides of the political fence, but when I look reality straight in its face, the political leader who is speaking directly to my heart and mind is Senator Edwards.
The urgent question isn't how we got here but what we do now. We have to give our troops a way to end their mission honorably. That means leaving behind a success, not a failure.
Senator Edwards gives us a plan for success in Iraq, focusing on three interlocking objectives:
1. Reducing the American presence. (We've reached the point where the large number of our troops in Iraq hurts, not helps, our goals.)
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Article comments
1 - pogblog
Both John and Elizabeth Edwards are an inspiration to me.
I think, Jude, that America must commit to eventually pulling out of Iraq completely before both Iraq and the region believe that we mean not just to have Iraq as a puppet state.
And if we want to promote cooperation in the area, we also need to convene an international conference IN the Middle East -- preferably run by the countries neighboring Iraq in collaboration with Iraq.
Until we are humble and genuinely collaborative, they can keep blowing up their version of soldier and planting IEDs for what Ho Chi Minh called "300 years -- after all we live here."
If America became an honest broker, we could make progress.