Liberal Commie Coward Emboldens the Enemy!
Fire up the swiftboat! On his return from a trip to Iraq, influential Republican John Warner called on Bush to take the "first step" in a withdrawal from Iraq and start bringing our troops homes before Christmas.
This is big, boys and girls .. the Old Guard of the Republican party finally coming out against the Bush/Cheney Iraq policy.
Smells like the end of the Nixon presidency .. one can only hope.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The influential former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has called on President Bush to start the process of bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq in September.
Sen. John Warner, a Virginia Republican, said Thursday that a pullout was needed to spur Iraqi leaders to action.
He has recommended 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 United States by Christmas.
"In my humble judgment, that would get everyone's attention -- the attention that is not being paid at this time," Warner said.
He added: "I really, firmly believe the Iraqi government, under the leadership of Prime Minister [Nuri] al-Maliki, let our troops down."
It sounds like he's essentially giving Bush one last chance .. make the decision now, or ultimately have it made for you. Remember that Warner is of the old school (pre Rove) where political opponents allowed each other the opportunity to save face .. as most honorable men do.
John Warner isn't likely to run again so he doesn't worry about political payback (yes, our troops' lives hang on them playing politics), but politically speaking, this is huge. It changes the spin from "Democrats in disarray, forced to acknowledge progress" to "GOP in disarray, top leaders calling for pullout."
Now everyone will be asking GOP Senators and Congressmen whether or not they agree with Sen. Warner.
The Republicans certainly don't want troops in combat in Iraq after the summer of 2008 .. they'll pull the plug, blaming Maliki, if Bush doesn't.
The NIE came out with its report yesterday, could've had something to do with all this. That's the National Intelligence Estimate, a consensus judgment of the CIA and 15 other US intelligence agencies:
"Iraq remains "unable to govern" itself effectively and hobbled by the absence of strong leadership, and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's inability to broker political accord continues to make him vulnerable, according to a new U.S. intelligence report released today."
The report paints a dire political reality. It also warns that it will take, you got it, another six to twelve months for Iraq to show progress.
And notice how Bush flop-flopped on Maliki the last couple days .. first endorsing him and then running over him with a Mac truck.
But it really doesn't matter what Bush says any more .. because by now everybody who's right in the head knows that Bush isn't. I know it .. you know it .. his dog Barney knows it.
He sent his Army in to attack .. and then just sat back and wondered why a full-blown Western democracy didn't just spring out of the ground. No post-invasion plans, nothing .. that's dim witted.
Congress -- including Democrats -- gave him EVERYTHING he wanted for four years. Blank check. He couldn't get the job done. And if you think Congress wanted to get involved, you don't know politics. The very fact that they're being forced to act by their constituents is proof of Bush's profound failure as a leader.
Anyway, even though Warner's recommendation might not mean a dang thing, it could trigger a chain of events toward the end of the occupation.
Remember that Warner has been very vocal about Iraq war troubles before, but had no problem voting to prop up Bush's failed policies every chance he got.
But this is a clear signal to Bush that he's in dangerous territory.
And my, wasn't it quiet on Fox last night?
Sean Hannity always loves to brag about his support for the Iraq war and is quick to demonize Democratic critics as undermining our troops and emboldening our enemies. But he was strangely quiet last night about Warner’s call for a pullout of troops and the NIE estimate on Iraq.
What’s the matter, Bullyboy? Too afraid to confront Republican Senator Warner to discuss it? Or is it that there’s just no way to blame Democrats?
