Voice of Minnesota: Kurt Schiebel, political blogger

As a follow-up to President Bush’s speech on troop increase, we have asked Kurt Schiebel, a political blogger with a son currently serving in the military, for his reaction to the address.  Here’s what Kurt had to say.

I want so desperately to support the necessary fight against terrorism. There are bad people out there, and they want to kill us. What makes them even more dangerous, is they don’t care if they die in the process. That is what makes this battle so much more difficult.

more insideFor about 4 years we have ‘shocked and awed’ and declared ‘Mission Accomplished’. Now the President states “the situation in Iraq is unacceptable”

I agree, it is unacceptable, but I don’t believe we can turn our back at this time. The key passage in the President’s speech involved turning over control of Iraqi security by November. In order to do this, an influx of 20,000 troops are needed to work along side current Iraqi forces to restabilize Baghdad, and focus on the Sunni resurgency.

Regardless of what you think of this President, there was one indisputable truth in his speech tonight: “defeat in Iraq would mean a sanctuary for extremists”

I may be in the minority, but I am willing to give President Bush till November, and then I expect a timetable for redeployment. Iraq needs to take ownership, and we will now give them a deadline, not open ended promises.

The commitment till than must include completing the rebuilding of infrastructure, and getting Iraqi citizens back to work.

My support doesn’t come unconditionally, for I have a son who just may be a part of this process. But we must be aware of the consequences of an unstable Iraq in an already unstable region. Walking away now is not an option, presenting the Iraqi government with our ultimatum is.