When the United States decided to go to war, it was pretty unanimous. The majority of the media, the Congress, the executive branch and the people supported the war. This may have been a big mistake, but we will let history make that decision.

The day the war started, we acquired a great responsibility to carry the war to a successful conclusion. That is the meaning of the word “responsibility.” Many are now disappointed with the happenings in Iraq and want to withdraw. Oops, we made a mistake, let’s get out. That is not my definition of taking responsibility.

Congress has taken that position. We hear it say the war is unpopular, too costly and President Bush lied to us. They take no responsibility. We, the people, elected a president for four years to conduct foreign policy, knowing his views and previous actions in Iraq. Yes, the war is costly, but we are there to prevent violence, not to cause it.

As to the lack of weapons of mass destruction, it is interesting to note that if large quantities of WMDs had been found in Iraq, we would still have the same mess there.

Instead of the above nonsense, it would be better if Congress concentrated on figuring out what would happen to Iraq if we withdrew and what would happen to the whole Mideast region and to the war on terror. It doesn’t take much imagination to see full civil war in Iraq and/or a full regional war in the Middle East and the formation of radical governments. Terrorists would be emboldened and would carry their then-successful tactics to the next stage.

The president, despite several mistakes in Iraq, is the one who has taken responsibility and will not abandon the Iraqi people or the moderates in the Middle East.

— Diego Cruz, Thousand Oaks