Congress should be debating shift in foreign policy

To the editor:

With all due respect to U.S. Sen. Jim Talent, our allies are not convinced of "the overwhelming case for removing Saddam." That is the point. And, while I am sure that Talent is privy to more specific, classified information than we common citizens, his letter's argument is based upon speculation of what might happen, not what is happening.

Members of Congress should be vigorously debating on this, the eve of a monumental shift in our foreign policy. What are the ramifications of the pre-emptive strike Bush Doctrine? First Afghanistan, then Iraq. Who next? How much will it cost? We are about to attack another sovereign country that has not threatened us, and Congress has unconstitutionally ceded its function to declare war to the executive branch.

Talent and his colleagues should be fighting for democracy by defending our Constitution here at home.

PAUL ZMOLEK

Cape Girardeau