Last night, when I heard Senator Ted Kennedy calling for an American withdrawal from Iraq, I had pictures in my mind of King Arthur and his knight facing an "ill tempered rodent," Sir Robin yelling " run away, run away," with Tim the Enchanter chuckling, "see, I told you." Ten years from now, will Iraqis be singing the minstrels' song..."When danger reared it's ugly head, he [Sir Robin] bravely tucked his tail and fled."

Monty Python and The Holy Grail is a fabulously funny movie. And I am among the legion of fans who can quote large parts of the movie verbatim. But the attacks we see in Iraq as we approach Sunday's historic elections cannot be solved by bringing out "the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch." (And three shalt thou count... not four, but three....) Actually, if we could, I'd throw Ted Kennedy at them. Why am I venting my ire at Ted? read on.

Yesterday, Sen. Kennedy said "The U.S. military presence has become part of the problem, not part of the solution." The senior senator from Massachutesetts continues belittle America's mission in Iraq. He thinks, or at least he is implying that American troops have inflamed public opinion against them and started an insurgency against us. Many, not just Teddy, are calling the violence in Iraq and insurgency. It's not. According to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia:

An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority, by any irregular armed force that rises up against an enforced or established authority, government, or administration. Those carrying out an insurgency are "insurgents." Insurgents conduct sabotage and harassment. Insurgents usually are in opposition to a civil authority or government primarily in the hope of improving their condition.

The definition above calls an insurgency a rebellion -- which implies this is an internal action conducted by nationals. In Iraq today, the violence we see is being conducted by foreign terrorists who have availed themselves of the opportunity to fight "the American devil." Finding that they are making little progress against coalition forces, the terrorists are now attacking Iraqi citizens in order to derail their desire for a democratically elected government.

The definition also says the insurgents are motivated by a desire to improve their condition. These terrorists are only pursuing power for themselves, not the people of Iraq. The terrorists want to install an Islamic autocracy or theocracy. Basically, they want a return to dictatorship. If this is accomplished by the terrorists, they are improving no one's condition.

I find Sen. Kennedy's behavior and comments in this matter to be reprehensible. If the U.S. were to obey Kennedy's call to withdraw from Iraq, the situation in Iraq and the Middle east would only worsen. America would be labeled a fair weather friend and a deserter -- and with good cause. America has to be firm and stay the course in Iraq. I have no doubt that the Bush Administration will do the right thing. The elections will be held (regardless of the violence), the Interim Iraqi Assembly will debate and form a constitution, and Iraq will begin its long road to becoming a reputable democracy. The U.S. will begin pulling out of Iraq only when the security of the Iraqi people can be assured and when asked to do so by the Iraqi government.

"There may well be violence as we disengage militarily from Iraq and Iraq disengages from us politically, but there will be much more violence if we continue our present dangerous and destabilizing course," Kennedy spouted. However, it is Kennedy's course that will be even more destabilizing, and not just for Iraq. Pulling out now will only leave Iraqis defenseless against those who would plunge it back into despotism. We cannot allow this happen. We must stay the course. We must stand for freedom.