“The New York Times” describes the road block that the Senate is facing in debating the war in Iraq. The Democrats want to quit funding the troops, and having the majority, it is most likely that this will happen. The Republicans, however, want to continue the plan until completion, no matter the cost.

Whether this is foolhardy or not, history will tell us but what the United States needs to do now is take a step back. Both sides of the coin pose great arguments for their points of view. On the other hand, with such a tiny majority, the Democrats are having trouble getting the things they want passed approved by a majority vote.

Adding to the mix, the House of Representatives’ adamantly denounced Bush’s Iraq plan, calling for decreased funding. With pressure from the House, the Senate might follow suit. This means rough times ahead for the emerging democratic nation in the heart of religious theocracies. Cutting the funding for the troops will only escalate the regional differences in the country. The Iraqi police and military force is not strong enough or developed enough to take care of its own country at this stage of their development. The smart choice is to give the soldiers more time to do some good in the country.

Do not take it the wrong way; continued violence in Iraq is a pointless, frivolous pursuit now that Bush has moved troops into the cities. That is the wrong strategy in defeating the ideology that is terrorism, leaving a large room for error on the part of America. Bush used the wrong strategy in trying to win the war and it has cost countless lives and billions of dollars along with an irreparably tarnished record in the Middle East as being the oppressor.

But, a civil war is quickly erupting and while the Senate stays indecisive, the fighting and killing will only intensify exponentially. The situation in Iraq is escalating between the Sunnis and the Shiites. These two sects have been in a blood feud for 1,400 years, and when you throw the Kurds into the mix, there is an extremely large problem in the Middle East.

Whether Congress chooses to pull the troops out or not, a decision needs to be made before Iraq turns into an all out war zone. If that happens, Iraq will become another Vietnam, and it will force Bush or the new president to tuck tail and run.

The citizens of the United States need to pressure their elected officials to make some sort of decision. Write a letter; call an office; do whatever it takes to get your opinion known.

The people of the United States cannot sit idly by while a lot of high and mighty legislators bicker and argue about trivial matters.

The nation needs to make up its mind and come to a decision before it is too late and Iraq goes down in the annals of history as a failed attempt to exert our freedom on an impoverished nation.

Columnist: Mike Boglovits - 03/01/07