WASHINGTON – A steady stream of messages concerning Iraq and the threat of war has flowed into the offices of Maine’s congressional delegation for months, but now that military action has begun, the content of those messages has changed.

Although most messages from Mainers are still in opposition to war, strong anti-war sentiments have taken a back seat to general wishes of quick, successful action and a swift return home of the troops in the Persian Gulf, according to delegation staffers.

“Twelve years is too long,” said one pro-war e-mail. Another said, “Saddam, not Bush, is choosing conflict.” But such statements are still in the minority among the messages Mainers are sending Congress.

One e-mail said, “I’m deeply saddened about how our policy about Iraq has come to this.”

In two days this week, Sen. Susan Collins’ office received 250 constituent calls and e-mails on the war, according to Steve Abbott, Collins’ chief of staff. They were divided about 60-40 in opposition to military action, he said.

“This is an issue where we’ve received a heavy volume of calls for a couple months,” Abbott said, adding that the level of calls has not increased significantly during the past few days.

Many of the messages to Collins expressed concern for the safety of U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians.

“I’m deeply concerned how this will play out in the worldwide Muslim community, a community already significantly irritated and threatened by us and our culture,” one e-mail read.

Dave Lackey, a spokesman for Sen. Olympia Snowe, said calls from opponents of the war have died down.

“Americans and Mainers strongly support our troops,” Lackey said. “There’s clearly been a pronounced shift.”

Maine’s House members, however, did not report as much of a shift in constituent views on the war Thursday.

“As more developments occur, the volume increases and it’s overwhelmingly from people who are concerned with the wisdom of using military action without the support of a broad coalition from the international community,” said Rep. Tom Allen’s spokesman, Mark Sullivan. But he added that on Thursday there were more calls than before in support of the servicemen and women.

In Rep. Mike Michaud’s office, the situation was similar.

“The overwhelming majority of calls that have come in have been in opposition to the war,” said Monica Castellanos, spokeswoman for Michaud, adding that there were “a handful” of calls Thursday in support of the war.

Although Michaud expressed disappointment that diplomatic actions failed, he said in a statement, “Regardless of our perspective on the use of military force in Iraq, it is now time for us to come together as a nation.”

“I know Americans will support our armed forces as they are called into action, and I know we will show compassion for their families as they wait the safe return of loved ones,” he said.