Last week, the last combat convoy left Iraq. By the end of the month, the remaining combat forces will also leave the country. This puts the Obama administration on track to reduce the U.S. troop level to 50,000 by Aug. 31.

This is an important step, but does not by itself end the occupation of Iraq. The administration vowed to complete Iraq's occupation by Dec. 31, 2011. That is a deadline we must meet.

The last 20 years of war, sanctions and occupation have broken Iraq. Millions of Iraqis have been killed, injured, traumatized, displaced, or forced to flee and live as refugees.

Breaking our promises and prolonging the occupation will not help solve any of the challenges the war-worn country is facing. In fact, our continued presence would exacerbate the Iraqis' woes.

It is essential that all U.S. forces leave Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011. That is no U.S. forces left in Iraq after Dec. 31, 2011.

Martha W. D. Bushnell

Boulder

END OUR ADDICTION TO OPEC OIL

While running for office, President Barack Obama promised that if elected, he would get us off OPEC oil within 10 years.

Two years are gone and we still don't have a plan. In fact, there is some evidence that we're going in the wrong direction. In July 2010, we imported 388 million barrels of oil. That's the single largest import month since President Obama was inaugurated.

The NAT GAS Act will create jobs, clean up the environment and improve our national security by providing tax incentives to organizations which operate fleets of vehicles that are fueled with imported oil to be replaced with vehicles that run on domestic natural gas.

Election Day will soon be here. Those who are running for office -- be it open seats, incumbents or challengers -- need to take a look at this legislation and make promising to reduce our need for OPEC oil a central part of their campaigns.

Judson Skaife

Boulder

MAKE CORPORATIONS DISCLOSE WHO PAYS FOR ADS

The new ruling by the Supreme Court gives corporations the right to buy elections! They can spend as much as they want to run ads.

Many people believe those ads and vote the way corporations want. Which is what makes the corporations more money. Congress is attempting to pass a bill, the DISCLOSE Act, that would require that corporations have to say they are paying for these ads.

The DISCLOSE Act came up just one vote short of passing the Senate in July, but it's coming up for another vote in September.

Please write to your senators and ask them to vote for the DISCLOSE Act.

James Morris

Longmont

END OUR WARS IN MIDDLE EAST

Gen. David Petraeus is waging war on two fronts. Lying about war will only worsen the issue -- peaceful ways are necessary to leading the world to a new world.

Megan Powers

Boulder