Stop pillorying dems.

• Position: Letter to the editor

I am a grateful Progressive reader who is just as against our adventure in Iraq as anyone, with the possible exception of Howard Zinn. I must, however, defend the Democratic leaders in Congress against Matthew Rothschild's charges of abdication and capitulation ("Democratic Betrayal," Comment, July issue). While I would have voted against the Iraq bill, Nancy Pelosi was correct.

Being the majority in Congress is not only about Iraq, however important that is. It is also about demonstrating leadership. Republicans over the past twelve years proved they didn't understand and didn't care. That is, in part, why Democrats are now in charge.

Pelosi and Harry Reid did the right thing by writing a bill to draw down and pull troops out of Iraq. They got that bill passed and sent to Bush. When the...