“Instead of protesting and getting arrested, why don’t you just sign your ass up to serve in military? Then you can be part of the solution for world peace and not part of the problem.”

These words were said by my flight leader to the leader of about 250 anti-nuclear protestors at a nuclear missile base in the early 80s. The anti-nuke leader did not have a response. One good thing happened though; I never used my riot baton that day.

Maybe House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton should have said that yesterday to the protestors at the Petraeus hearing in Washington, D.C.? Maybe it would be a good idea for some of these anti-war folks to enlist for a couple of years?

The Moveon.org advertisement in the New York Times on Monday was over the top. They should not impugn the integrity of a General like David Petraeus. Of course, a few hours after the ad was published, the Republican National Committee sent me a fundraising e-mail saying, “This kind of malicious and despicable attack cannot stand — and we must fight back…” “Please make an urgent online contribution of $1,000, $500, $100, $50 or $25 to the RNC today to help us set the record straight…”

Those who are against the surge and the war are sure welcome to their opinions. That’s what many of us wore the uniform for. I don’t see where disrupting a hearing does much. Maybe they should just elect people who share their anti-war views? But isn’t that what they did in 2006? I guess the folks they elected were not ready to take on this chore, but they sure made a bunch of promises didn’t they?

Of course, the Montana Congressional delegation was split on their opinion of the Petraeus report which makes me wonder why the Associated Press would waste time writing about it.

Our three members (Senator Max Baucus, Senator Jon Tester and Representative Denny Rehberg) shared the views of the party. I wonder how the three feel about the Moveon.org advertisement. Baucus voted to authorize the war in 2002. He now says he regrets the vote. Tester has said he wants a different direction in Iraq (isn’t that what the surge is?) but I think Tester’s different direction idea means turning around and coming home. Tester and Baucus are walking a fine line. They hate the war and the Bush Administration, but they don’t want their hate to muddy their support for the troops. It’s a fine line and as a former military person I can tell Baucus and Tester that we sure see what you two boys are doing. Rehberg had the best statement where he said that the troops in Iraq should be managing the war, not Congress. True.

The problem is the war in Iraq is a political war being fought in the halls of our nation’s capitol where most of those elected to represent us never served their country.

General Petraeus says things are getting better, but there’s still a lot of work to do. He has a plan and the plan includes the withdrawal of 30,000 troops by next summer and that force reductions will continue. His report should give the folks in Congress a little something they all could agree on. If you believe that, then I have some ocean front property to sell you here in Montana.

So now Bush will go on TV this week and speak about Iraq. He will attempt to shore up his support to stay with the Petraeus plan for a few more months. The Democrats will attempt to derail it and end the war. Everything is back to normal on the front lines…in Washington, D.C