On March 20, 2003, the United States invaded Iraq and began the Iraq War, a conflict that lasted for eight years following. Before the invasion, Congress voted and passed the Iraq Resolution: a joint resolution authorizing military action against Iraq. John Duncan Jr., the representative for Tennessee's 2nd Congressional District, voted against the resolution, making him one of seven Republicans to do so. Rather than conform to popular opinion, Duncan made a choice that he believed would save countless lives and money. Duncan's opposition to the Iraq resolution and the war itself required immense political courage; the move jeopardized Duncan's voter support and forced him to overcome the obstacle of contrasting opinions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The aftermath of the Iraq War continues to plague the United States and Iraq today. John “Jimmy” Duncan always defended his reputation as a man of the people. Without fail, Duncan made a conscious effort to connect with members of his community and organized “Constituent Days” during which he met with these people face to face to discuss their concerns. By voting against the Iraq War, Duncan's decision directly conflicted with their views. Before the vote, only "9 percent of Duncan's voters opposed the war," suggesting that 91 percent disagreed with him. By opposing the vast majority of his voters, Duncan endangered his strong relationships with them and jeopardized his own re-election: "As I pressed the button to vote against the war, I seriously wondered if I ended my political career,” he recalled in an interview. . Despite this risk, Duncan remained convinced that going to war with Iraq was not the best decision for the United States. He emphasized his core principle of limiting government spending, saying, "I have just become convinced that these wars were more about money and power than a real threat to the United States." Even though he lost the support of his voters and subsequently faced re-election, Duncan made a decision that he believed would benefit his country in the long run. Before and after his vote, Duncan overcame opposing views. When Washington discovered that it might vote against the Iraq resolution, the White House held a meeting with Duncan in which the secretary of state hoped to change his position. Regardless, he remained convinced that the war in Iraq was neither necessary nor useful. “Since you go against all traditional conservative values…do you have evidence of an imminent threat?” » he asked. True to his original position, on the day of the vote, Duncan was "one of seven Republicans to vote against the Iraq War." In the months and even years following Duncan's vote, he faced real backlash from his constituents and the general public. In Tennessee, “a Baptist church disinvited Duncan from a speaking engagement; a candidate ran against him solely on the war.” Although refuting his vote against the Iraq War may have been the easier option, Duncan did not waver in his opinion. As the war unfolded and evidence emerged that Bush's reasoning for invading Iraq was flawed, Duncan's vote gained more support. In fact, Duncan now considers this vote one of the most popular. By adhering to its.”