Blue Crab Boulevard

Irresponsible

Well, Harry Reid has informed the media that he believes the war in Iraq is lost. Specifically, he told that to the French press, apparently. So much for America speaking with one voice overseas. But we've already seen that in action, haven't we?

The war in Iraq "is lost" and a US troop surge is failing to bring peace to the country, the leader of the Democratic majority in the US Congress, Harry Reid, said Thursday.
"I believe … that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything, as is shown by the extreme violence in Iraq this week," Reid told journalists.

Reid said he had delivered the same message to US President George W. Bush on Wednesday, when the US president met with senior lawmakers to discuss how to end a standoff over an emergency war funding bill.

"I know I was the odd guy out at the White House, but I told him at least what he needed to hear … I believe the war at this stage can only be won diplomatically, politically and economically."

Congress is seeking to tie funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to a timetable to withdraw US troops from Iraq next year, but Bush has vowed to veto any such bill and no breakthrough was reported from the White House talks.

Nice try at having it both ways - the war is lost but it can be won. And good luck convincing the voters that the Democrats can be trusted with national security. At some point, I hope people look back and realize that the Reid-Pelosi regime was what scotched the Democrats for a long time. (I suspect it will be, let's see what history has to say about it.)

Politics, War | Gaius Thursday, 19 April , 2007

By markg8, Thursday, 19 April , 2007 @ 5:47 pm

You might want to fix your blockquote of the Agence France Presse article. You wouldn’t want people thinking your editorializing is theirs.

BTW Harry Reid wasn’t overseas when he said that, he was in DC. The American people trust Dems more on national security. Go look it up at polling report if you don’t believe me. That’s not really saying much though, the competition is George Bush and the Republican party.
By Gaius, Thursday, 19 April , 2007 @ 6:10 pm

Thanks for pointing that out. I hate when it does that.

I’m aware Reid was not overseas.
By John Hetman, Thursday, 19 April , 2007 @ 8:28 pm

“Go look it up at polling report….”

Just like the polling results that had John Kerry winning the 2004 Presidential election.
By tbogg, Thursday, 19 April , 2007 @ 9:16 pm

Yes I remember those heady days when our national security was entrusted to the Republican president and his advisers.

So, where were you on 9/11/2001?
By Gaius, Thursday, 19 April , 2007 @ 9:26 pm

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Where was Clinton when the operation was being planned?
By tbogg, Friday, 20 April , 2007 @ 12:15 am

Well, he hadn’t been President for nine months (which is about 20% of the way through George Bush’s first term). I guess he should have known that Bush was a slow starter…which would explain that vacation Bush needed eight months into the job.

Presidentin’ is hard work. It’s a good thing he had Dr. Rice as his National Security adviser. If only she had been able to get caught up on her reading.

Whatever. She got the promotion anyway.