To the editor:

Lynn Jenkins is running in the Republican primary for Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District. In a recent interview, Ms. Jenkins said “I don’t want Nancy Pelosi or Nancy Boyda deciding when or how our military forces are going to conduct business over there.” She added that she “would prefer to listen to our military generals : who are the experts in prosecuting a war.”

For a person running for an important national office, Ms. Jenkins betrays a frightening disregard for the original intent of our Constitution. Our elected representatives have the clear responsibility for deciding such crucial issues as why we began prosecuting the war in Iraq , what our basic objectives were, what they are now and what our mission is today.

It’s the job of the military to carry out the directions of our elected representatives, not the other way around. The military is the employee; we, through our elected representatives, are the employers. For examples of the military run amok, just observe Burma or Pakistan.

In our district we will debate whether we prefer Jim Ryun, Nancy Boyda or Lynn Jenkins to represent best our opinions about what our national mission in Iraq should be. Whoever wins will have that responsibility, not the generals.

Oliver Finney,
Lawrence