Dear Rep. John Carter:

As we watch the news footage of Israel pulling out of the occupied territories, we should take heed. An occupying force cannot wage an open ended war against a popular insurgency that is not afraid to sacrifice its own members (and innocent civilians) for its cause. Israel was only able to maintain its occupation for as long as it did because of the popular support of its people and even then it was ultimately a lost cause. How can we expect our own occupation of Iraq, faced with dwindling support at home, to be any more successful?