Reid Opposed To Bush, But Not To The War

Ed Henry of CNN reports that Bush seems to want the appearance that he's leading a parade and not a stampede.

As an increasing number of Republican senators break with the president on the war and say they want large numbers of U.S. troops to start coming home, he will essentially say, "I'm for that too!"

Senior officials expect the president to repeat what he's said before, which is that of course he would like to get to a point where the U.S. can soon start troop withdrawals -- but with major caveats. The president contends there first needs to be more progress in Iraq on two fronts, security on the ground and political reconciliation within the Iraqi government.

This is just more of the same garbage from the mouth of the president. He may be using a new brand of garbage bag to wrap it in, but it's the same old garbage. Patience, just cause, Osama, al Qaeda, fight them there and not over here, don't cut and run, good, evil, good, evil, security, surge, it's up to the commanders on the ground, I'm the decider, Islamo-fascism, Iran over and over and over.

So, what will victory look like? Even more important, what will withdrawal look like? The often confused and bumbling Harry Reid offered less than nothing today with his comments on Iraq.

Reid said these Republicans “must put their words into action by voting with us to change course and responsibly end this war.”

But, as Reid reminded reporters Monday, when he says “responsibly end this war” he does not mean “withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq.”

“Understand even if you take (the) Feingold-Reid (proposal), Feingold-Reid called for American troops to remain in Iraq to do counterterrorism, to protect our assets in Iraq, to train the Iraqis,” Reid explained. “There's estimates that that would still leave tens of thousands of troops in Iraq.”

Well Harry, just what do you want the president to do? How many do we pull back? Are you looking for some type of successful conclusion in Iraq or do you just want to defeat Bush? How many "tens of thousands" do you plan on keeping over there and how is that different from what Bush is doing now?

If you have a plan Harry, let's hear it. I'd like to hear anyone come up with a plan that would not be a disaster. Let's hear what victory would look like and let's hear what withdrawal would look like. You people in Washington wanted to be leaders, lead dammit!

One of the so-called moderate republicans spoke up today on the Iraqi situation. I was underwhelmed.

But the problem for the president is that many fellow Republicans are no longer willing to give it a chance to work, with moderate Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine declaring that a troop redeployment should occur by the middle of next year.

"That should occur and send a very important message to the Iraqi government that our time, you know, has evaporated, along with our patience with respect to their failures to implement the political objectives," Snowe told "American Morning" on Tuesday.

"Our troops are making the military sacrifice and, yet, they're not willing to make the political compromises," she said.

You noticed the brave lady wants the troops redeployed by the middle of next year, just in time for the elections. Why not the end of next year, or the end of this year since the date is based upon nothing other than political risk or fortune. I love the last line where she complains that the Iraqis won't compromise politically. I think they are just following the example of the U.S. congress which has not compromised on anything in over 10 years. What a stupid thing for the moderate Ms. Snowe to say.

Until sixty politicians grow a little backbone then the obstinate Mr. Bush will continue to have his way. I don't know why we complain, we got just the government we deserved.

I think Mr. Reid and Ms. Pelosi should come up with something other than just opposition to the consistently incompetent Mr. Bush. If you just want us out, then cut off the money. If all you want to do is defeat Mr. Bush politically, then maybe you should look for work elsewhere.

Jim Martin