Reid: Republicans Much Match Words With Action To Change Course In Iraq

June 26, 2007
Reid: As Opposition To President's Escalation Plan Grows, Republicans Much Match Words With Action To Change Course In Iraq

Washington, DC—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following remarks today on the floor of the U.S. Senate:

Yesterday, the US Conference of Mayors highlighted the toll the Iraq war is taking on our health, safety and well-being here at home by voting for a resolution to bring the war to a responsible end.

“Stamford, Connecticut, Mayor Dan Malloy said the war is draining desperately needed funds from classrooms and municipal services. David Cicilline, the Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, said, “continued U.S. military presence in Iraq is resulting in the tragic loss of American lives and wounding of American soldiers…reducing federal funds for needed domestic investments in education, health care, public safety, homeland security and more. I want to thank the U.S. Conference of Mayors for taking that important stand.

“And I also want to thank my good friend and colleague, Senator Richard Lugar from Indiana, one of our most trusted and esteemed colleagues on either side of the aisle – especially on foreign policy. Yesterday Senator Lugar gave voice to the growing sentiment among his Republican colleagues that we must change course in Iraq.

“Senator Lugar said, ‘Persisting indefinitely with the surge strategy will delay policy adjustments that have a better chance of protecting our vital interests over the long term.’

“I understand that speaking out against the war is not easy for my Republican colleagues. Senator Lugar’s comments – and those of the handful of other Republicans who publicly share his view – take real courage. But courage is the only way we will change course in Iraq.

“Some floor speeches go unnoticed, but Senator Lugar’s is not one of them. When we finally end this war – and the history books are written – I believe that Senator Lugar’s words yesterday could be remembered as a turning point. But that will depend on whether more Republicans will take the courageous first step that Senator Lugar took last night.

“I look forward to working with Senator Lugar – and I hope and believe a growing number of Republicans – to put his words into action by delivering the responsible end to the war that the American people demand and deserve.”


http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=277778&


Influential Republican Senator Calls for Drawdown of US Troops in Iraq

Capitol Hill
26 June 2007

Senator Lugar took aim at President Bush's so-called troop surge strategy, saying the costs and risks of continuing down the current path outweigh the potential benefits that might be achieved to protect U.S. vital interests over the long term.

"Its prospects for success are too dependent on the actions of others who do not share our agenda," he said. "It relies on military power to achieve goals that it cannot achieve. It distances allies that we will need for any regional diplomatic effort. Its failure, without a careful transition to a back-up policy would intensify our loss of credibility. It uses tremendous amounts of resources that cannot be employed in other ways to secure our objectives. And it lacks domestic support that is necessary to sustain a policy of this type."

Lugar said he sees little evidence that Iraqis will make the compromises necessary to solidify a functioning government and society.

"We have the worst of both worlds in Iraq, factional leaders who don't believe in our pluralist vision for their country, and smaller sub-factions who are pursuing violence on their own regardless of any accommodations by more moderate fellow sectarians," he added.

"We need to be preparing for how we will array U.S. forces in the region to target terrorist enclaves, deter adventurism by Iran, provide a buffer against regional sectarian conflict, and generally reassure friendly governments that the United States is committed to Middle East security," he noted. "Simultaneously, we must be aggressive and creative in pursuing a regional dialogue that is not limited to our friends. We cannot allow fatigue and frustration with our Iraq policy to lead to the abandonment of the tools and relationships we need to defend our vital interests in the Middle East."

The Senate's top Democrat, Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, says Lugar's comments could provide political cover for more Republicans who want to challenge President Bush's Iraq policy.

"When this war comes to an end, and it will come to an end, when the history books are written, and they will be written, I believe that Senator Lugar's words could be remembered as the turning point in this intractable civil war in Iraq," said Senator Reid.

Next month Reid plans to hold votes on several anti-war related amendments to a defense policy bill, including proposals to cut off money for combat operations, withdraw troops, and revoke the 2002 congressional authorization for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-06-26-voa27.cfm?rss=middle

What a bonehead.

"Republicans Much Match Words With Action."

Meanwhile Harry, as always, is bent over reaching out to the other side never expecting the slap in the face and the swift kick in the ass that inevitably follows.

in an extension of the constant, knee-jerk criticism of Democrats, no matter what they do.

uh no, actually my criticism here is specific: repeatedly reaching out to the other side and getting repeatedly fucked over seems somewhat counterproductive to me, but that is just my opinion. More generally I am irate over the fact that this congress we elected sat down and voted to escalate the criminal occupation of Iraq with another blank check funding bill. So it is not 'no matter what they do', which is a completely dishonest representation of my position, it is specifically what they have done on specific occasions.

but pay no attention to the turd in the punchbowl, drink up.

and Congress failed to get enough support behind ANY strategy to get him to end it.

At that point, some of our Democrats voted to allow (limited) funds intended for *those troops already deployed.

But you go ahead and take responsibility from Bush and his republican *enablers and put it on Democrats pledged and committed (in voting for timetables) to end the occupation.

edit: *