War on Terrorism Talking Points

• Think about what has been accomplished in Iraq – a new, freely elected government, construction of schools and hospitals, growing commercial activity, and Iraqi police and military growing in numbers and experience despite the extremists attacks and attempts to derail the developing democracy.
• We now have four Muslim partners fighting terrorists alongside Americans and our allies.  Four years ago, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya were all supporting terrorism and actively working against the United States.  Today, they each stand with us and are themselves fighting Islamic extremist terrorists around the world.
• Mike Rogers has had many opportunities to talk with citizens of Iraq, including some of its leaders, and also has spent time with our American military men and women serving in Iraq and the surrounding area.  Mike says the Iraqis convey a sense of appreciation and hope along with a fierce pride in their own country and its new status as a democracy.  The military displays a pride and sense of mission that the make it clear they understand that progress is being made in Iraq, Afghanistan, and it other places where we fight the War on Terrorism.
• Do we want it finished and our men and women out of harms’ way and back with their own families? Absolutely! But while a free world and living a secure, happy life is our dream, that dream is achieved not by wishing for it but by standing strong and fighting for it.  The question we must ask ourselves is this: Do we want to win the War on Terror or do we want to duck for cover and leave it to our children and grandchildren to fight it for us? I think not, this is a war we must and will win.

Tips for Writing a Letter

• Be sure to provide all your contact information in the spaces provided.  Some editors may have questions about your letter and need to contact you and many papers will not publish a letter without them knowing name, address, and phone number of the author. 
• Be sure to choose a topic that matters to you.  Passion is important.   The talking points provided are there to provide an outline of the issue and to serve as a starting point to your own letter.  Your letter will have more merit and will be more likely to be published if it is in your own words.
• Focus on relevent issues in the news, particularly those that were recently published in the paper you are writing.  If possible, cite a specific article. The more recent your topic made news the more likely you are to be published.
• Finally, keep your letter concise. Different newspapers have varying word requirements, with the shortest being 150 words, and some ranging up to 250 words. A letter to the editor should be brief and to the point.