Antiwar activists delivered petitions with 584 signatures to the Yakima office of Rep. Doc Hastings on Wednesday, urging him to support the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of next year.

"We want Congress to come up with an exit strategy," said Larry Breer, a Vietnam veteran who served 20 years in the Air Force. Breer and 11 others showed up at Hastings' office on East Chesnut Avenue. The Pasco Republican was in Washington, D.C.

The effort was part of a national campaign by the political action committee of MoveOn.org, which works to defeat what it calls "right-wing" candidates. The group said its members delivered petitions with 400,000 signatures to congressional members in their home districts.

Calling himself a "John Murtha man," Dale Johnson said he saw a lot of carnage as a combat infantryman in World War II.

"That was the so-called 'good war.' There is no good war," he said.

Murtha is the hawkish Pennsylvania congressman and decorated Vietnam veteran who recently called on President Bush to withdraw troops from Iraq in six months.

Korean War veteran Tony Landreau said the U.S. presence in Iraq is only encouraging the insurgency and terrorism.

"Going there was a terrible mistake," he said.

Andrew Soltz, who at 18 was one of the youngest protesters, said he doesn't want the United States to withdraw hastily, which is why he supports the group's call for a plan to bring the troops home over the next year.

"It's just become obvious to me that we need to get out," Soltz said.

In a statement, Hastings' spokeswoman Jessica Gleason said the Republican congressman "always appreciates having the benefit of his constituents' opinions. As a steadfast supporter of our troops and the war on terror, Hastings does not support a withdrawal until our mission is complete."

* Reporter Leah Beth Ward can be reached at 577-7626 or lward@yakimaherald.com.