GOP Congressman Calls War "A Mistake"

Rep. Doug Bereuter, a retiring Republican congressman from Nebraska, has criticized the Iraq war as "a dangerous, costly mess." Bereuter, a senior member of the House International Relations Committee and vice chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, believes there is no quick way for U.S. forces to exit Iraq. He also cites intelligence failures and damage to the U.S.'s reputation around the world as reasons for his position.

I give Bereuter a great deal of credit for going against the administration and his party on this issue. While he originally supported the war, he has the courage to call the war a mistake and admit that his own position was flawed. It is too bad more Republicans will not make similar moves, but it is not surprising that they would put political considerations above all else. The Congressman deserves credit for acting in a non-partisan way on this issue. Other congressmen, both Republicans and Democrats, can learn from this action. Politicians toe the party line far too often at the risk of failing to vote their consciences.