Posted on 08/18/2007 8:38:45 AM PDT by NavyCanDo
WASHINGTON — Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, voted against the Iraq war, but the Democrat now says the United States should stay in Iraq as long as it takes to ensure stability in the war-torn country.
"We're on the ground now. We have a responsibility to the Iraqi people and a strategic interest in making this work," Baird told The Olympian newspaper after a recent trip to Iraq.
A hasty pullout could cause chaos that helps neighboring Iran and harms U.S. security, said Baird, who returned this week from a trip that included stops in Israel, Jordan and Iraq. He said he met troops, U.S. advisers and Iraqis, whose stories have convinced him the military must stay longer.
Baird voted in March in favor of a Democratic plan requiring President Bush to bring combat troops home from Iraq next year.
"People may be upset. I wish I didn't have to say this," said Baird, who is under pressure from liberal-leaning groups in his southwest Washington district to support a troop withdrawal.
The United States needs to continue with its current "surge" of military troops "at least into early next year, then engage in a gradual redeployment," said Baird, a five-term lawmaker. "I know it's going to cost hundreds of American lives and hundreds of billions of dollars."
His comments are based on two beliefs, Baird said:
"One, I think we're making real progress. Secondly, I think the consequences of pulling back precipitously would be potentially catastrophic for the Iraqi people themselves, to whom we have a tremendous responsibility ... and in the long run chaotic for the region as a whole and for our own security."
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
I nearly choked on my morning coffee when I read the title of this story in my copy of the very liberal Seattle Times.
We give anti-war Democrats allot of flack for supporting our enemy by opposing the war. When one comes around and sees the light, I think we should thank them for being for being honest and putting politics aside. If you would like to send Congressman Baird a congratulatory e-mail, here is his web site.
http://www.house.gov/baird/
Until the election. Then we pull out the record and confront his flaky and opportunistic judgment.
We must REALLY be kicking alqueda-ass in Iraq! When a Washington demonRAT says that we are doing good things over there, and it’s reported by the msm, holy moly.
I can't believe it.
I am beside myself.
OK, one down. How many to go?
Look very closely to see if this guy’d district is changing to become more conservative. His Bachelor’s degree is from the Univ. of Utah and he spent time at the University of Wyoming, so he may have some conservative upbringing.
But far more important . . . he is a multi term Congressman and they do not change their spots unless they see writing on the wall in their district. Maybe it is trending rightward.
This IS good news. I have recently discovered that there is small difference between a conservative Democrat and a conservative Republican. If Baird’s district is becoming more conservative with the constant influx of out of staters, Baird will become more conservative. At least he’s proven to this Washingtonian that he is honest, and that means everything.
Thank you Rep. Baird, and thank YOU, Seattle Times for factual reporting. It is about time!
Our Liberal 'Columbian' down here has a more in depth article about his change of views, Baird: Early departure from war bad for Iraq
I hope others can see the truth about this and put partisanship aside and get behind our Troops to complete their mission.
I won't hold my breath on Murray or Cantwell, though.
As opposed as I am most of the time to Baird’s views, I have to admit he has always been honest with me in correspondence. With the growth we are seeing here in Clark County, it appears to be going either farther left, much to my chagrin.
Of course, we’ll see how much, if it really is, next week as we vote on Proposition 1, an increased levy on property tax so the Port of Vancouver can expand.
Thanks for e-mailing him. I did also. We need to counter balance a little the tons of angry e-mails and phone calls he will get from the anti-war zealots.
Stay strong all.
The Bad guys are starting to crumble pretty much on every front.
Suns rising........
Dont be so suprised- it always does...
Now onto Fred............
As FDR once said, "In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."
I found out long ago that I can get further with professionals by calmly expressing my views, agreement or opposition, than angrily attacking them. Baird will soon find out just how angry the leftist moonbats are.
As for the moonbats, they are worthy of ridicule for their braindead antics.
Since Baird is my Representative I have contacted him several times and even in opposition, I have always received a decent reply from him. Murray’s replies are usually condescending and Cantwell has never replied, not once.
Now this article didn’t say he turned Republican so don’t expect his voting record to reverse - but I do believe he is sincere in his new stance on the war, and with 2 nephews in Iraq, one with a Stryker brigade I appreciate any new support for the War no matter who it comes from.
As I posted on Blogs For Bush last evening, this doesn’t mean I’ll vote for him, I am still in opposition to his other views. But I do give him credit for rising above the angry rhetoric seen by party leaders.
In terms of the War on Terror, Iraq theater especially, there is no room for the heavy partisanship placed there by Democrat party leadership.
“...said Baird, who returned this week from a trip that included stops in Israel, Jordan and Iraq. He said he met troops, U.S. advisers and Iraqis, whose stories have convinced him the military must stay longer.”
Haven’t we all read more stories similar to this about Representatives returning from Iraq with positive commentary on not only the surge, but our being there in the first place. I know I have, and it makes me wonder about the information flow into our Congressional theater each time I read this sort of thing.
How can our Lawmakers be so extremely detached?
Call me cynical, but I believe most of the pols on the left have known all along that taking down Saddam and assuring a fairly stable government to prevent further sponsorship of jihadists were the proper steps to take.
Democrat leadership, however, has dictated that Bush and his supporters must be attacked relentlessly on all fronts. They have known that there would be times when they would need to cast votes to continue operations but that they could cover themselves by kicking and screaming the whole way.
Dems facing election where it could swing either way are now faced with having to blunt the impact of their perpetual anti war stance. If it suddenly looks like we are kicking fascist butt and they have been anti military the entire way they risk being perceived as losers by a fickle electorate.
As facts come to light we will be seeing more and more incongruous flag waving from democrats, a natural outgrowth of placing politics above country.
I am unimpressed. Hope it’s too late for the DUmmie
“U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver”
Did we annex part of Canada?
Shouldn’t it read “U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-WA”?
Sigh.... Well, I can dream, can’t I?
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