Our brave fighting troops, who are faced daily with violence, in 100-degree heat, far away from that which is familiar and those whom they love, rise each morning and perform their duties without question, focused on the mission at hand. And for this noble endeavor, they have my complete and unwavering support.
Being in Iraq, seeing our armed forces in full force, the Humvees speeding through the streets, troops marching in order, it's clear that our military is the single most powerful fighting force in the history of the world. And at the heart of this unstoppable force are the men and women from Montana. From flight chiefs, to brigade commanders, to infantrymen, and with more soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan per capita than any other state, the men and women from our state are the epitome of success. Every time I met a soldier from Rapelje, Broadview or Livingston, it made me even more proud to be a Montanan myself.
It's far past time for the Iraqi government to step up and display the same strength and courage that our soldiers have displayed, and bring peace to their nation. When I was in Baghdad, I personally met with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. During this meeting I was very frank with him and told him that he needs to stiffen his spine and take control of Iraq.
President Woodrow Wilson once said that “the ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people,” and Prime Minister Maliki must listen to all Iraqis and bring about a solution to end the violence. The Iraqis must be held accountable and know that if they continue to put sectarian violence above the interest of their nation, then the United States will no longer continue to send our sons and daughters to fight for something which the Iraqis won't embrace.
It's also time to engage other nations that have a stake in Iraq. Neighboring countries like Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia that do not want violence to spill over their borders, and nations in Europe and across the world that do not want Iraq to become a breeding ground for terrorists. Our military has done everything we asked them to do, and now diplomacy it secure the peace.
I understand this situation is complex, and I realize that it won't be solved overnight. We must bring our combat troops home as soon as possible. While we should leave limited troops there to protect American interests and continue to train Iraqi forces, the bulk of American troops must begin a safe and responsible withdrawal immediately.
I know the sacrifice of this war. As I sat under the willow trees on my family ranch, looking into the eyes of a woman too young to be a widow, comforting my brother as he had just lost a son and staring at my nephew's flag-draped casket, I felt the pain that war can cause. Yet I know I am not alone, as families across our country have felt this same pain. Now, it's time to honor the sacrifice of not only my nephew, but the noble sacrifice of every soldier, veteran and their families by bringing our troops home.
Max Baucus is Montana's senior U.S. senator and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. He recently returned from a trip to Iraq.
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