LTTE K.C. Star: Roberts and Brownback refuse to stand up.

[patrice]

Death and destruction embolden those who intend to become religious martyrs or tribal heroes. Strategic alternatives are disincentives to them. Senators Roberts and Brownback failed to understand this when they voted recently to avoid going on record with a vote on a bipartisan resolution disagreeing with President Bush’s plan to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq.

Republican Senator John Warner’s non-binding resolution also included international strategies consistent with those supported by several retired Generals, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and James Baker’s Iraq study group.

In addition to the fact that it is difficult to respect reasons for or against the President’s plan if Senators won’t stand behind their positions with a vote, the hypocrisy of those who rhetorically flogged minority filibusters in previous Congresses redoubles public disdain for those who expect our troops to make the ultimate sacrifice while they hide from having to stand up for their own positions.