Election 2006: James Sensenbrenner's Outrage and the Iraqi War

The recent call by Representative Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin for a review of Army training practices, following the death of Specialist Stephen Castner, is surprising considering his silence on such issues over the last three years. Castner, a Cedarburg, Wisconsin, native, and a former employee of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, perished while on active National Guard duty in Iraq last week. Sensenbrenner, in responding to questions by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel regarding military preparedness, said "...the bottom line is the Army should not be sending people into a theater (of war) that are not adequately trained to do the job." The Journal Sentinel piece goes on to say that Army training personnel would have no problem with a congressional inquiry if it means that they will get the attention they have not received since the Iraq War began.

Sensenbrenner is right, but why has it taken the deaths of over 2,500 American soldiers, the debilitating injury of nearly 20,000 soldiers, and the billions spent in Iraq for Sensenbrenner to make these remarks? Because he is trying to play election year politics with the life of a southeast Wisconsin man who was serving his country. Sensenbrenner could have responded three years ago and it would have had more power, but now it seems like he is merely joining the chorus of pandering politicians. Sensenbrenner's call is not alone, as many Republicans and more than a few Democrats have made similar calls as members of their constituencies have fallen in Iraq. However, Sensenbrenner's opportunistic bellowing won't save any more American or Iraqi lives than if he kept silent because his only concern is to maintain his incumbency.

Jim Sensenbrenner has shown the ugly side of the Republican Party in the last twenty years, including a greater interest in controlling the mechanisms of power in the House than in using them to help out hard working Americans. As well, Sensenbrenner has a poor record during the Iraq War. His vote on HR 3289 in 2004, which would have given supplementary pay to Army troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, shows that he is even stingy with those he claims to support. As well, in an October 10, 2002, roll call (#455), Jim Sensenbrenner voted to authorize the use of United States troops in Iraq. Essentially, he wants to have his fiscally conservative cake and eat it too.

This November, it is incumbent upon those in his congressional district to sweep out Sensenbrenner and his Republican counterparts and bring in some new blood. Sensenbrenner is not an anomaly among Republicans and his inability to relate not only to his constituents but to his fellow congressman means that his incumbency is useless to those in Southeast Wisconsin and the United States. While Democrats in Congress have done little good as a minority party, it is important to note that challengers like Bryan Kennedy in Wisconsin's Fifth Congressional District, among others, bring new ideas and a fresh "outsider" perspective to Washington politics. Sensenbrenner's call for a review of Army training procedures is a cheap tactic to gain attention for himself and not a move that will help troops in Iraq.