Deaths in Iraq Between Sen. Warner's Letters

The dates of Sen. Warner's identical responses to me are March 21, 2008 and April 14, 2008 (Two letters were received April 14, both identical, both with the same date, both the same as the March 21 letter.)

During this 3.5 week period 58 American soldiers died in Iraq and Afghanistan. What has changed? Nothing. Sen. Warner stated in his three identical letters: "I am pleased the President agreed with my comments (to reduce forces) , and that an initial reduction of forces is beginning." What reduction in forces is "beginning"? Is the press hiding a reduction in forces? Is he talking about the surge, then the slightly reduced surge? This is not a reduction in forces. Could it be Senator Warner's staff has failed to change his template?

In the fall of October, 2006 Senator Warner took another trip to Iraq.

Why do representatives do this? What does it accomplish other than to reinforce their own political positions so they can say to their constituents back home: "See me! Look at me! I went! Things are going great" or almost so.

Things were not going so great that fall, and the Washington Post quoted Senator Warner on October 6, 2006:

"Warner blamed the Iraqi leaders for failing to improve conditions. 'You do not see them taking the levers of sovereignty and pulling and pushing them and doing what is necessary to bring about a situation in Iraq whereby the people are able to live, have sufficient food and fresh water, and have a sense of confidence in their government that they're going forward,' Warner said.

"But he said the situation is not beyond repair. 'We're not going to give up hope yet. Let's give it more time to work.'"

Senator Warner, how long, how long, how long is time enough? While you sit in your Senate chambers and talk about giving more time to permit the Iraqi travesty to "work itself out" how many more will die? Be injured? Senator Warner, you have the power to change the direction this hellfire blows. Please do it. Or have you already retired and are just bidding your time while others far away die from the hands of the weak in Washington, D.C.?