PROUD HOOSIER

Being the corn fed Indiana girl that I am, I usually take great joy when someone from my state does its citizens proud. That was the case yesterday for me. I was so joyed to see my former 9th Distric Congressman, Lee Hamilton, along with James Baker making the presentation of the results of the Iraq Study Group. Although it seems pretty clear that we are losing in that area I thought it was a great example of what Republicans and Democrats can do when they are challenged to work together. It seems pretty clear that cleaning up the mess and getting out of Iraq is bigger than all of us. It will take a miracle for us to save face and come out looking like we have won.

One of the things that I haven't heard anyone ask or comment on is, "Can Iraq's soldiers, law enforcement and politicians even be trained to do the jobs that it is necessary for them to do?" It sounds questionable to me. Otherwise, I'm thinking, they would be more help to us after 3 years of our trying to train them. Are they merely a bunch of ragtag fighters who can't learn to fight in a prescribed unified manner? If that be the case, I wonder if there is much chance for any kind of order in that country. I guess that is the result of living under dictatorial rule for so many generations.

Thank you, Lee Hamilton, for being a voice of reason along with your committee members in an otherwise unreasonable situation.