Democratic leadership in Congress is fully invested in the United States' defeat in Iraq, and perhaps in the war on radical Islamic jihadists. Their actions in the years prior to the 2006 mid-term adequately demonstrate this.

Recent non-binding resolutions only embolden efforts of radicals to step up their efforts to continue instability. They are, in effect, aid and comfort to the enemy.

Now Rep. Murtha is considering, with the support of Speaker Pelosi, reductions or elimination of funds for troops in Iraq that they purport to support.

How disgraceful! All this is to deter the president, who has the constitutional power to defend this nation, from exercising that power responsibility.

I do not believe the majority of Americans want defeat in Iraq, despite Democrats' attempts to portray the recent elections results as a mandate for such an outcome. Most people do not want another Vietnam, bringing death to millions. The Vietnam war was lost by political abandonment, not military defeat.

Radical Islamic jihadists have pledged the destruction of our civilization.

Those who hate President Bush so much that their powers of reason have been dulled by a myopic desire to bring him down are determined that we "cut and run" from Iraq. They do not consider consequences of failure.

The jihadists will turn Iraq into a terrorist base fueled by oil revenues. Nations that hate the U.S. will buy Iraqi oil.

The jihadists will come after us harder than ever, determined to destroy our civilization and turn us into a subservient Islamic nation. This has been Islam's history. Be warned this is only one battle in a lengthy struggle for our western culture versus a civilization stuck in the Middle Ages.

Peyton E. Cook

Southern Pines