Flip-flopping isn’t just for John Kerry anymore. Self-proclaimed “moderate” Republican Senator Susan Collins is the newest flip-flopper in Washington. She declares she speaks for Maine; however, in an overwhelming number of cases, she has severely let down Maine’s citizenry.

On March 16, she did not live up to her rhetoric; she voted “no” on the most important issue facing the nation today. Collins voted against the resolution facing the Senate, concurrent with the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, to redeploy our troops in the next 120 days to training, force protection, and targeted counter-terror, and in turn, remove all other troops not involved in these specific forces by the spring of 2008.

Maine wants a more peaceful future for Iraq. To achieve this, a plan with sensibility, unlike the others, needs to be in order. A healthier Iraq would not only stop the needless killing of Iraqi civilians, but also begin a trend of diplomacy and calm in the Middle East. Additionally, from a national security viewpoint, a less invasive and militaristic policy in Iraq, accompanied by a withdrawal of combat forces and a replacement of different troops with different aims will protect us from terrorism and reinstate self-reign in Iraq.

Mainers have rational values and would never elect a senator who simply voted with the GOP; 2008 should not only bring a new plan to calm the civil war in Iraq, but also, a new senator who will not just follow President Bush’s lead.

Jenna Barzelay, Lewiston