Welcome change

There are many of us who have felt from the beginning that the invasion of Iraq was a blunder of monumental proportions. There are millions more who have come to believe that, even if the initial reasons for going to war were valid, there is no reason to allow our troops to continue to be killed and wounded in the middle of a seemingly endless sectarian civil war.

It was, therefore, encouraging to read The Augusta Chronicle's editorial on Sunday. In it the editor stated, "Unless the summer surge nets real and marked results, we need to bring our troops home this fall." We know it wasn't easy for the Chronicle to come to this conclusion. Our Augusta neighbor has been one of the strongest supporters of the war on terror and the Bush administration. They are simply among the many, including prominent members of the President's own party, who have become disenchanted with the way the war was prosecuted and the post-war efforts to maintain peace have literally gone up in the smoke of IEDs and suicide bombs.

The significance of this change of policy by a newspaper like the Chronicle should not be underestimated. It means that the patience of even the strongest supporters of the administration is wearing very thin. Republican leaders in the House and Senate are beginning to talk about benchmarks for the so far ineffective Iraqi government as well as the need significant progress in the reduction of bloodshed in the country.

Senator John McCain, the GOP presidential candidate who has been the most vocal in his support of the Bush policy, seems to be gathering almost no steam in his bid for the White House. Others who are less enthusiastic about "staying the course" are gaining ground with Republican voters.

The American people spoke clearly in the November 2006 election. They want a change in direction. President Bush has been either unwilling or unable to provide it. Perhaps now, with his core support disintegrating, he will begin to see the light at the end of this long, dark tunnel.

Looking Back

10 years ago: May 28, 1997

McKnight Construction of Augusta was the low bidder for construction of the new primary school to be built here. The new school was scheduled to house 1,050 students.

Chief Earl Porterfield of the Burke County Emergency Management Agency was named Region VI Director of the Year by the East Central Georgia Emergency Medical Services.

More than 2,500 customers attended the grand opening of the new Save-A-Lot store in Waynesboro.

25 years ago: June 2, 1982

Preston B. Lewis III qualified to run for the Georgia House of Representatives. The District 106 seat was held by Emory Bargeron of Louisville.

Joe Nunnally was named manager of the new Hudco Loan Co. office in Waynesboro.

Jimmy Cason, former youth director at First United Methodist Church, was scheduled to be ordained into the ministry in ceremonies in Macon.

50 years ago: May 30, 1957

John J. Jones announced that 36 residential lots would be offered for sale in a new subdivision called "Spring Valley," along the New Herndon Road.

Coca-Cola introduced a "king-size" bottle of Coke, the first change in packaging of the product in over 40 years.

75 years ago: May 27, 1932

S.L. Sullivan, one of the brothers who founded The True Citizen in 1882, died at the age of 71.

"Burke County Women as Taxpayers" was the subject at a meeting of the Burke Federation of Woman's Clubs.

Guest speakers included Dr. J.M. Byne and John J. Jones.