Do you think the war in Iraq will help to end terrorist attacks? 

Posted Sept. 11, 2007 – The timing of Army Gen. David H. Petraeus’ report to Congress was no mistake. Congress and the Bush administration were smart enough to get the report 24 hours before the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Why?  It only gave Petraeus one day on the front pages of American newspapers before attention turned to the “reason” for the war.  ]

Yesterday, Petraeus gave the country mixed reviews on the “war on terror,” proposing a reduction in troops following the “surge” of an additional 30,000 troops.  Petraeus recommended that the United States begin bring about 30,000 troops home beginning next year. He fell short on doing much more.

 “Our military cannot sustain its current deployments without crippling our ability to respond to contingencies around the world,” Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said in response to Patraeus’ report. “It’s time for a change of direction that brings our troops home.”

Shouldn’t our troops be more focused on Osama Bin Laden?  The leader of al-Qaeda is still making videotapes and has successfully avoided capture since the attacks on 9/11. 

Presidential hopeful Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) said it’s time for the United States to  “quickly and safely” end the war in Iraq and use “the resources we had been expending there to reinforce our efforts to secure Afghanistan and hunt down the real terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks.”

Six years after 9/11, Congress is working to pass the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act.  The bill will enact the recommendations of the bipartisan commission into law and work toward securing our ports and protecting the most vulnerable cities in country from terrorist attacks.  

Time is of the essence; let’s hope the next anniversary will be able to mark the capture of bin Laden.