While Maine’s congressmen and senators are at home during the August recess, this is a good time for them to hear from their constituents. Of course, Iraq remains uppermost in all our minds.

I believe President Bush, with majority support from Congress and the American people, should end the surge policy and begin to bring a large number of our military home. At the same time, a smaller number of specially trained forces should be assigned political and diplomatic efforts to work with both Iraqi Sunni and Shia political leadership, to end the civil war.

In addition, what is needed to strengthen and unite the Iraqi political forces, is the involvement of the United Nations and the United Arab League, international cooperation from NATO and the European Union. The ongoing internal tribal conflicts within Iraq as well as relations with Iran need this international diplomacy.

These combined international forces would have the power to develop new political cooperation and new political structures, to assure the establishment of peaceful relations within Iraq and beyond for the whole Arab regions.

Frances Wirta

Houlton