Maine delegates focus on U.S. role in Iraq

BOSTON – Iraq is a major concern among Maine’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

An Associated Press survey of the delegates shows the situation in Iraq to be the most frequently mentioned top issue of importance, along with the economy and jobs. Health care was mentioned most often as a No. 2 priority in the survey of 32 of Maine’s 35 delegates.

Alison Smith of Portland, one of the seven Maine delegates for Howard Dean, echoed the former Vermont governor’s argument that the war in Iraq was ill-conceived and never should have begun.

“If we want to be respected in the rest of the world, we need to treat the rest of the world with respect and not bully other nations into complying with our perverted wishes,” Smith said.

Delegate Mary Cathcart, a state senator from Orono who is pledged to John Kerry, said casualties are rising and the war is not being won under President Bush.

Dean delegate Ed Desgrosseilliers of Auburn, who retired after 20 years as a chief petty officer in the Navy, has a son training for Iraq duty and says he’s not anti-military. But Desgrosseilliers said casualties are mounting as humanitarian catastrophes elsewhere go unanswered.

“Maybe we should sit down with our allies and mend fences and talk about a long-term solution to this real problem we’ve had a hand in creating,” said Desgrosseilliers, one of more than 500 veterans who are convention delegates.

Bruce King of Bradley, one of Maine’s 11 Kerry delegates, said the top issue in his view is the war. Maine’s delegation also includes six delegates for U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio.

“We need an exit strategy and we need one now,” said King.

Kerry voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq, but late last year opposed granting the administration $87 billion to continue prosecuting the war because he disapproved of the way Bush has handled the conflict.

Peter Cianchette, chairman of Maine Bush-Cheney ’04, says voters are becoming more supportive of U.S. action in Iraq, especially since the U.S.-backed Coalition Provisional Authority turned over sovereignty to a transitional Iraqi government last month.