Sen. Warner: Start bringing troops home by Christmas
Will Bush start pulling out troops by Christmas?
CNN-The influential former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has called on President Bush to start bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq by Christmas.
Sen. John Warner, a Virginia Republican, said Thursday that a pullout was needed to spur Iraqi leaders to action.
He has recommended that Bush announce the beginning of a U.S. withdrawal in mid-September, after a report is released from the top U.S. officials in Iraq, and that those troops should be back in the U.S. by Christmas.
“In my humble judgment, that would get everyone’s attention that is not being paid at this time,” said Warner.
Senators should stick with wasting our money, chasing whores and consuming mass quantities of alcohol. Let the military experts decide how to execute the war.
Time to go home Senator Warner. Thanks for your service to the country, but it is just really time for you to retire.
Senator Warner will certainly apply your free advise to the south end of a north bound baboon.
bb – should the military overthrow the government and take over everything?
bb seems to have forgotten that civilian control of the military is one of the hallowed traditions of American politics.
Senator Warner, on the other hand, is realizing the consequences of letting your party be taken over by idiotic, incompetent, treasonous fundamentalists.
David,
What part of Commander-in-Chief don’t you get? Point out the section of the Constitution that gives a Virginia senator the power to take control from the president.
The part covering treason.
Bart
Which experts?
The assessment, known as a National Intelligence Estimate, casts strong doubts on the viability of the Bush administration strategy in Iraq. It gives a dim prognosis on the likelihood that Iraqi politicians can heal deep sectarian rifts before next spring, when American military commanders have said that a crunch on available troops will require reducing the United States’ presence in Iraq.
John,
The NIE is a mixed bag with positive news regarding the surge, but questions about the political situation. I know you only want to acknowledge the negative data, but there are many positives to be gleaned as well.
Without a doubt there are many challenges to be addressed. But the NIE strongly advises against Warner/Levin’s proposal to start removing troops now. If America did scale back the military effort, it would be that much more difficult to accomplish political goals.
Bart
Bart
The political is the major issue we should judge. Other wise all we are doing is playing traffic cop in a dangerous area. That is why I have said surge or withdrawal is not the real issue only a tactic. We need to focus on the political solution as to success or failure in Iraq.
John,
You have no chance of political reconciliation if there is uncontrollable civil unrest (see 1960s). The military is making progress in the most tumultuous areas which will ultimately make it reasonable to seek political goals.
You can’t have one without the other John. The NIE recognizes this fact.
Bart,
You and I agree on that part which is why I said I am not for a pull out without a plan. I just disagree with a strong federal government working with democracy in Iraq. The hatred between groups is too deep and long.
That is why Kurdistan is doing well because they have self rule. Kurds do not consider themselves part of Iraq.
John,
Ideally your (Biden’s) way should work. But it is not for America to dictate how government will be setup in Iraq, China or any other country.
People live in this microwave world where everything must be done in express mode. Setting up a government in a country like Iraq after so many years of strife and tyrannical rule is not possible by hitting the 4 minute button. Personally I find it amazing that so much was accomplished in such a short period of time — only 5 years since the take down of Saddam. If we could take the politics out of the debate (can’t be done, but since we’re being idealistic), it would be fascinating to witness what might happen. If Sunnis, Shias and Kurds knew without doubt that America intended to finish the job with no chance of premature withdrawal as supported by so many on the left, it is quite possible they would come to the table and find a reasonable solution to the their generational differences.
Bart,
All we have to do is recognize the areas they are already split.
John,
It’s not that simple John. They are not divided as cleanly as you portray. And over time it will only become less clear as freedom provides an opportunity for inter mingling of the figthing factions.
I think it is much better to be engaged as we are with the military providing a foundation for future political negotiations. Otherwise your children and grandchildren will wonder why this generation ignored the problem as so many have done up til now.
FREEDOM providing an intermingling of the fighting factions???????
That’s a lot of words to say battle.
Isn’t it easier and quicker to just say battle to the death?
The NIE is a complilation effort. Like anything else done in committee, expect it to be very, very short on dissent, facts, and real world reports.
Since the ’surge,’ the civilian body count has doubled in Iraq. Thats with a huge ’surge’ in the prison population or the fair more politically correct term used by the Bush GOP… detainees.
“The military providing a foundation for future political negotiations?”
About the same as saying nothing while invoking the concrete image of a ‘foundation.’
Most foundations are buried. Time to stop burying our troops because Bart Brannon wants time for diplomacy to work…