In early 2003, I sponsored and passed a resolution in the Maine State Senate calling on the administration to "support the full pursuit of diplomatic resolutions and weapons inspections."  At a time when Congress was rushing to authorize an ill-advised but popular war, I stood with the millions of Americans who believed then and now that our military should never be sent to battle unless all other options have been exhausted and there is a direct and immediate threat to our national security.

But as much as I wish the position I held in 2002 and 2003 had prevailed in Washington, what's past is past--we are in Iraq and must find a way out, as soon as possible.

Our goal as a nation must now be to work tirelessly to end this purposeless and senseless conflict, and to ensure that those who deceitfully and dishonestly led us to this point are held accountable for their actions, and to prevent any more wars from being needlessly waged in the future.

I renew my call for Congress to fulfill its obligation to the American people by initiating impeachment proceedings against President Bush and Vice-President Cheney, and ask that we all take a moment today to reflect on the losses we have endured. Without a full examination of why and how we were led into this disastrous conflict, we run the risk of repeating this mistake in the future.

We must never again allow ourselves to be manipulated through fear and uncertainty, and we must continue to demand that our leaders conduct themselves in such a way as to reflect the greatness of our purpose, and the nobility of our nation's true aims: liberty, prosperity, and--now, more than ever--humility.

I'm proud to be standing with my fellow Mainers today in every county across the state, and with Americans in cities around the country, in calling for an immediate end to this occupation and the return of all our troops from Iraq as quickly as possible.

-Ethan Strimling
Candidate for Congress, ME-01