No person thinks more lowly of the patriotism, as well as the abilities, of the Republicans who have been conducting the War on Terror and the totally unrelated War in Iraq.  Different people often see the same subject in purely political terms; and, therefore, I hope to express my carefully calculated position freely and without reserve.  This is no time for military action.  The decision to stay the course is one with awful repercussions.  For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of keeping or losing our precious civil liberties; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the shrillness of the dissent.  It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at specific timetables and fulfill the great obligation to our troops, who were simply trying to escape poverty and ended up half way across the globe in harm’s way.  Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of having my patriotism questioned, I should consider it an act of disloyalty to the far-left fringe, which I revere above all other constituencies.

Mr. President, it is natural to Americans to indulge in the illusions of nationalism.  We are apt to shut our eyes to the world community until the United States is no longer respected in the world.  Is this the part of wise men engaged in a great and arduous struggle for dialogue?   Are we disposed to be like conservatives who have televisions but who see not the daily images of bloodshed? For my part, whatever future American lives it may cost in the next jihadist attack, I am willing to speak truth to power. 

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of pacifism.  I have no way of judging Iraq but by Vietnam.  And judging by Vietnam, I wish to know what accomplishments there have been by the U.S. Army to justify the hope that America can win a protracted war.  Let us not deceive ourselves, sir.  American military forces are the implements of war and imperialism.  Sir, we have done nothing to avert the storm of international ill-will toward America.  We have dominated; we have subjugated; we have failed to prostrate ourselves before the United Nations.  There is no longer any room for victory.  If we wish to be respected in the world, we must capitulate!  I repeat, we must capitulate to the jihadists who seek our destruction! 

To fail is inevitable, and let us re-deploy!  I repeat, sir, let us re-deploy.  It is in vain, sir to prolong our military presence there.  Conservatives may cry War, War, but there is no war, except that which we bring upon ourselves.  Three thousand soldiers have died in the field.  Why stand we here idle?  Is liberty so dear as to be purchased at the price of blood and treasure?  Forbid it, Nancy Pelosi!  I know not what course others, may take, but as for me, give me conversion to Islam, or give me death!