We are the deciders.

• Author: Ivins, Molly
• Position: Small Favors

I'm not trying to make George W. Bush look like the dumbest President ever, though the guy doesn't have the sense God gave a duck. Presidents have done dumber things. What were they thinking when they bought into the Bay of Pigs fiasco? How massively stupid was the entire war in Vietnam?

But while Bush stands there like a frozen rabbit, we don't have that luxury. We've got to stop this war.

It's not a matter of whether we will lose or we are losing. We have lost. General John P. Abizaid, until recently the senior commander in the Middle East, insists that the answer to our problems there is not military. "You have to internationalize the problem. You have to attack it diplomatically, geostrategically," he said.

His assessment is supported by General George W. Casey Jr., who led American forces in Iraq, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who recommended releasing forces only with a clear definition of the goals for the additional troops.

About the only politician out there besides Bush actively defending a surge is Senator John McCain. In a recent opinion piece, he wrote: "The presence of additional coalition forces would allow the Iraqi government to do what it cannot accomplish today on its own--impose its rule throughout the country.... By surging troops and bringing security to Baghdad and other areas, we will give the Iraqis the best possible chance to succeed."

With all due respect to the senator from Arizona, that ship has long since sailed.

A surge is not acceptable to the people of this country. We have voted overwhelmingly against this war in polls (about 80 percent of the public is against escalation, and a recent Military Times poll shows only 38 percent of active military want more troops sent) and at the polls.

We know this is wrong. The people understand, the people have the right to make this decision, and the people have the obligation to make sure our will is implemented.

Congress must work for the...