eyond all inquiries, the Democrats must answer this question: Why did the United States get pushed into a war against Iraq?

We knew in 2002, 2003, and subsequently that containment policy was keeping Saddam Hussein penned in and relatively harmless to his neighbors. We know that he detested bin Laden and religious fanatics, who were rightly perceived as credible threats to his dictatorship, more than he disli

Dear Madam Speaker of the House Elect,

Congratulations on your recent electoral victories that returned your party to the majority in the Congress of the United States. By now the celebrations should be winding down, the press has begun looking for the flaws in the party, and the Democrats are facing down the formidable and depressing state of the union of late 2006.

It is in the spirit of the Democratic Party’s election message that I am writing this letter to you and your entire cohort of fellow Democrats. The nation has put its faith and hopes upon your shoulders, most especially in the need for the Congress to restore checks and balances to the national government. There are many variations on the hopes of the electorate, but the most concise, pithy summary is this: Please, don’t screw up!

The biggest issue facing your leadership is the gargantuan quagmire in Iraq. There are people calling for immediate withdrawal, sending more troops, and impeaching messers Bush and Cheney. You have exhibited wisdom in refraining from entertaining the latter.

There is nothing valuable to be gained in impeachment proceedings at this stage. The mechanism of impeachment hurts the ability of the national government to function, and therefore could lead to more animosity and waste than we can stand after the long war. The appeal of impeachment will bring the same kind of short-term catharsis to some that invading Iraq gave to others. Besides, the White House crew will change in two years. Instead, America and the world need you to get honest answers to real questions that affect the present and could disrupt the future.

Above and beyond all inquiries, the Democrats must answer this question: Why did the United States get pushed into a war against Iraq?

We knew in 2002, 2003, and subsequently that containment policy was keeping Saddam Hussein penned in and relatively harmless to his neighbors. We know that he detested bin Laden and religious fanatics, who were rightly perceived as credible threats to his dictatorship, more than he disli

c Party’s election message that I am writing this letter to you and your entire cohort of fellow Democrats. The nation has put its faith and hopes upon your shoulders, most especially in the need for the Congress to restore checks and balances to the national government. There are many variations on the hopes of the electorate, but the most concise, pithy summary is this: Please, don’t screw up!

The biggest issue facing your leadership is the gargantuan quagmire in Iraq. There are people calling for immediate withdrawal, sending more troops, and impeaching messers Bush and Cheney. You have exhibited wisdom in refraining from entertaining the latter.

There is nothing valuable to be gained in impeachment proceedings at this stage. The mechanism of impeachment hurts the ability of the national government to function, and therefore could lead to more animosity and waste than we can stand after the long war. The appeal of impeachment will bring the same kind of short-term catharsis to some that invading Iraq gave to others. Besides, the White House crew will change in two years. Instead, America and the world need you to get honest answers to real questions that affect the present and could disrupt the future.

Above and beyond all inquiries, the Democrats must answer this question: Why did the United States get pushed into a war against Iraq?

We knew in 2002, 2003, and subsequently that containment policy was keeping Saddam Hussein penned in and relatively harmless to his neighbors. We know that he detested bin Laden and religious fanatics, who were rightly perceived as credible threats to his dictatorship, more than he disli

ssue facing your leadership is the gargantuan quagmire in Iraq. There are people calling for immediate withdrawal, sending more troops, and impeaching messers Bush and Cheney. You have exhibited wisdom in refraining from entertaining the latter.

There is nothing valuable to be gained in impeachment proceedings at this stage. The mechanism of impeachment hurts the ability of the national government to function, and therefore could lead to more animosity and waste than we can stand after the long war. The appeal of impeachment will bring the same kind of short-term catharsis to some that invading Iraq gave to others. Besides, the White House crew will change in two years. Instead, America and the world need you to get honest answers to real questions that affect the present and could disrupt the future.

Above and beyond all inquiries, the Democrats must answer this question: Why did the United States get pushed into a war against Iraq?

We knew in 2002, 2003, and subsequently that containment policy was keeping Saddam Hussein penned in and relatively harmless to his neighbors. We know that he detested bin Laden and religious fanatics, who were rightly perceived as credible threats to his dictatorship, more than he disli

, and therefore could lead to more animosity and waste than we can stand after the long war. The appeal of impeachment will bring the same kind of short-term catharsis to some that invading Iraq gave to others. Besides, the White House crew will change in two years. Instead, America and the world need you to get honest answers to real questions that affect the present and could disrupt the future.

Above and beyond all inquiries, the Democrats must answer this question: Why did the United States get pushed into a war against Iraq?

We knew in 2002, 2003, and subsequently that containment policy was keeping Saddam Hussein penned in and relatively harmless to his neighbors. We know that he detested bin Laden and religious fanatics, who were rightly perceived as credible threats to his dictatorship, more than he disli

eyond all inquiries, the Democrats must answer this question: Why did the United States get pushed into a war against Iraq?

We knew in 2002, 2003, and subsequently that containment policy was keeping Saddam Hussein penned in and relatively harmless to his neighbors. We know that he detested bin Laden and religious fanatics, who were rightly perceived as credible threats to his dictatorship, more than he disliked the United States. We know that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, no ability to launch missiles at Europe or the U.S., and no involvement in attacking the World Trade Center or Pentagon. We know that the senate’s intelligence committee wasn’t completely convinced of the poor evidence it had to peruse. The CIA knew, and told the White House, that the yellow cake story was bogus.

Given that there is not one single piece of credible evidence that either linked Iraq to 9-11 or substantiated claims that Iraq was an imminent threat to the U.S. or its allies, it is particularly incumbent upon the new Congress to find out why the nation was marched off to war in Iraq. There is nothing you can—or must—do that will come close to the importance of answering that question.

Yes, Medicare must be fixed, and the government must have the ability to bargain for better prescription drug prices. The middle class, or what’s left of it, must have tax relief rather than supporting America’s richest two percent. And yes, the minimum wage must be raised for those states where lowest-wage workers truly have nothing to gain by being employed. But you must also ensure that Congress does not vote itself any further raises, and that senators and congressmen actually read essential proposed legislation, such as the PATRIOT Act, before voting it into law. And please, no more multi-million dollar bridges to nowhere.

Above all, you must establish the reasons for the war that defines this presidency. The United States is a nation of law, and until this question is resolved, Americans will be justifiably wary of the government and its ability to act