The Iraq war is our national disaster. I take no pride nor joy in saying that I have opposed the idea of invading Iraq since the very first time that whispers of an invasion were made by our Nation’s leaders. I spoke out against the idea of an invasion as a private citizen. I talked to my friends about the dangers of such an invasion. I wrote to the President and to our Congressional leaders registering my opposition to such a misadventure months before the invasion occurred.

The invasion of Iraq was predicted to be a disaster that would lead to the loss of thousands of members of our brave and loyal Armed Forces without making America more secure. The invasion of Iraq was predicted to make our country appear to be a bully and less than truthful as to the reasons for our unilateral decision to go to war in Iraq. The invasion of Iraq was predicted to result in renewed civil strife between ethnic and religious factions that have been fighting each other for centuries. Lastly, the invasion of Iraq was predicted to result in the waste of billions and billions of taxpayers’ dollars that could have been used to build lower cost housing for the elderly and to met the health car needs of Hawaii’s working families.

I have opposed the Iraq invasion from the very beginning and I oppose the Iraq misadventure today. My opposition to the Iraq invasion was, and is, based upon my family’s teachings, my religious teachings, my life experiences and the simple act of reading history books. I continue to oppose the Iraq misadventure because this invasion did not fit with my ideas of what America is as a Nation and of what America can become as a Nation.

The Iraq war continues to be an American disaster. It is dragging down our Nation and it is bankrupting our national spirit, our national values and our national resources. If elected I will not vote to fund any further occupation of Iraq. As a candidate I encourage the President to immediately notify the Iraqi Government of our intent to leave Iraq by January 1, 2007. As a candidate for Congress I urge the President to confer with our military leaders to plan for the orderly removal of our troops from Iraq by January 1, 2007, and for the transfer of appropriate levels of troops to Afghanistan to continue the hunt for leaders of Al Qaeda, the original and continuing location of our “9/11″ enemies.

I fear neither Al Qaeda nor leaving Iraq.