Cord Byrd: “September 11 has come and gone, and as we remember those who were lost, those lives that were lost on that awful day…”

“September 11 has come and gone, and as we remember those who were lost, those lives that were lost on that awful day, that fateful day, and contemplate events since the horrific attack, one truth stands out: The war in Iraq has backfired, producing more recruits for terrorism and deep divisions within even our own country. It is a war we should never have begun. The detour from our attack on bin Laden and his minions hiding in the cracks and crevices of the rough terrain of Afghanistan, to the unwise and unprovoked attack on Iraq, has been a disastrous one. Mr. Bush's war has damaged the country because he drove our blessed land into an unnecessary conflict, utterly misreading the consequences, with the result now being a daily display of America's vulnerabilities to those who wish us ill. The United States is a weaker power now, especially in the Middle East but also in the court of world opinion. Where, where, where is the America of restraint? Where is the America of peace and of inspiration to millions? Where is the America respected not only for her military might but also for her powerful--her powerful--ideas and her reasonable diplomacy?…”