I have some great news for everyone reading this article. Someone has a plan for getting out of Iraq. Is it . . .

(A) The Bush Administration?

(B) The U.S. Congress?

(C) The Defense Department?

(D) West Virginia Patriots for Peace?

If you answered (D), you are correct. The West Virginia Patriots for Peace has a plan for getting the United States out of Iraq. You can read that plan by going to our Web site:

www.wvpatriotsforpeace.org

or by pasting the following link into your browser:

http://www.wvpatriotsforpeace.org/docs/07_21_06_exit_strategy.html

If you don't have e-mail and want to see a copy, just write us at P.O. Box 3482, Charleston, WV 25334 and we will mail you a copy.

Here's some of what you will see if you read our plan.

# You will see a call to begin our withdrawal immediately. We say "immediately" because we believe America has been in Iraq long enough -- long enough to either disprove most reasons given for going in there in the first place or to accomplish all the others.

# The United States has become the out-of-town company that's overstayed its welcome. It's time to start packing. If we don't start the job, we'll never finish it.

# You will see a call for the withdrawal to be a measured one. No "cutting and running" here. Our plan has a list of steps that we believe we should be taking between the time we begin our withdrawal and the time we end it to help the Iraqis rebuild their country.

# That would include allowing the Iraqis to have control over their own oil. If the United States does not do that, it will give credence to those who argue that the real reason we invaded in the first place was to get the oil.

# You will see a deadline date of Dec. 31, 2007. Yes, I know about all the arguments against setting a specific deadline. However, by setting a deadline, we force the Iraqis to work harder to take charge of their own country -- getting their army trained, establishing their government, etc.

You see, I always thought the position of "we'll stand down when the Iraqis stand up" as being backwards.

If we say to them, "We're outta here next December. You better be ready," they will have a deadline to work towards. I bet they will meet the challenge.

Remember, it's their country, not ours.

So, visit our Web site and read our plan. Then ask those running for federal office in West Virginia about that plan.

We are. We've sent a copy to all the candidates for federal office, regardless of party, and we've asked them to let us know what they think.

We're going to keep asking them, every chance we get, and we're going to let you know what they say.

The war in Iraq has been going on since March 2003. For 40 long months, Americans have been watching the bleeding and the dying -- on both sides of the conflict.

It is abundantly clear that the longer we stay, the worse it will get.

It's time to bring our soldiers home.

Swing is president of West Virginia Patriots for Peace.

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