Sometimes it boggles my mind that the man I happily voted for in 2000 as the Democratic nominee for Vice President has so sunk to the depths he has. Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who for some reason the press continues to call a Democrat, has lined up with Bush and Cheney and against the American people, the US generals, and even the troops on the ground in calling for more war and more death.

I’ve just spent 10 days traveling in the Middle East and speaking to leaders there, all of which has made one thing clearer to me than ever: While we are naturally focused on Iraq, a larger war is emerging. On one side are extremists and terrorists led and sponsored by Iran, on the other moderates and democrats supported by the United States. Iraq is the most deadly battlefield on which that conflict is being fought. How we end the struggle there will affect not only the region but the worldwide war against the extremists who attacked us on Sept. 11, 2001.

Ahh, invoking 9/11. How Rovian of him.

To turn around the crisis we need to send more American troops while we also train more Iraqi troops and strengthen the moderate political forces in the national government. After speaking with our military commanders and soldiers there, I strongly believe that additional U.S. troops must be deployed to Baghdad and Anbar province — an increase that will at last allow us to establish security throughout the Iraqi capital, hold critical central neighborhoods in the city, clamp down on the insurgency and defeat al-Qaeda in that province.

Didn’t we try that six months ago? Didn’t violence and death increase? Are we really supposed to believe that 20,000 or even 50,000 more troops will stop the violence in a country of 26 million where thousands are killed each month? Sen. Lieberman closes with his favorite strawman:

Rather than engaging in hand-wringing, carping or calls for withdrawal, we must summon the vision, will and courage to take the difficult and decisive steps needed for success and, yes, victory in Iraq.

Ahh Joe, you’re just so courageous. What are a few more dead Americans so you can look brave? What are a few more thousand dead Iraqis so you can be a strong centrist with “vision?”

Call Senator Lieberman and tell him to stop wasting lives for his own ego. (202) 224-4041.