CONGRESS'S WAR OVER THE WAR : After Iraq Trip, Unshaken Resolve ( One day trip )

Washington Post ^ | August 26, 2007 | Shailagh Murray

[george76]

When Rep. Jan Schakowsky made her first trip to Iraq this month, the outspoken antiwar liberal resolved to keep her opinions to herself. "I would listen and learn," she decided.

At times that proved a challenge, as when Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih told her congressional delegation, "There's not going to be political reconciliation by this September; there's not going to be political reconciliation by next September." Schakowsky gulped -- wasn't that the whole idea of President Bush's troop increase, to buy time for that political progress?

But the real test came over a lunch with Gen. David H. Petraeus, who used charts and a laser pointer to show how security conditions were gradually improving -- evidence, he argued, that the troop increase is doing some good.

Still, the U.S. commander cautioned, it could take another decade before real stability is at hand. Schakowsky gasped. "I come from an environment where people talk nine to 10 months," she said, referring to the time frame for withdrawal that many Democrats are advocating. "And there he was, talking nine to 10 years."

The trip gave Schakowsky a good look at the challenge that Democrats face next month, when Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker travel to Washington to testify before Congress, presumably with similar charts and arguments that the U.S. military is making strides in Iraq, and that withdrawal dates would be reckless and wrong.

A co-founder of the House Out of Iraq Caucus, Schakowsky saw only fleeting glimpses of Iraqis' day-to-day life during her one-day trip.

The few times she ventured out of the Green Zone, she was in a helicopter or a speeding convoy, soldiers hanging out of the windows with machine guns, obscuring the view. She heard about dire power and water shortages, yet saw nothing firsthand.

[george76]

her one-day trip.

.

[Mr Rogers]

soldiers hanging out of the windows with machine guns, obscuring the view

I've never been in a convoy where soldiers hung out of windows. We always kept them shut, since they are bulletproof and we were not.

[detch]

Now, after ONE FULL DAY, she’s an instant expert.

It’s heartwarming to know that she’s on the Intelligence Committee, too. What more does she need toform her (pre-determined) position?

She should be Hillary’s VP candidate, and Hillary can turn to her for her first-hand information.

[johnny7]

her one-day trip.

She can probably do Disney World in 30 seconds...

[Godwin1]

The kind of politician the Washington Post loves: a far left America hating liberal. A corrupt hack whose husband just got out of federal prison for a check-kiting scam. A bully who intimidated cowardly Chicago federal prosecutor Fitzgerald from indicting her with her husband for filing a fraudulent tax return. Incredibly, the supposedly brilliant Schakowsky was deemed an “innocent spouse.” Twice this woman was among only a handful of far left politicians who voted against bipartisan resolutions expressing “support for the troops.” A particularly despicable democrat.

[goldstategop]

These people are ignorant - they believe in quick fixes. Life is full of setbacks and frustrations but you have to deal with them patiently and with good humor. The Democrats can't.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[bray]

Her next trick is a 1 day trip on the War on Poverty!

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Still, the U.S. commander cautioned, it could take another decade before real stability is at hand. Schakowsky gasped. "I come from an environment where people talk nine to 10 months," she said, referring to the time frame for withdrawal that many Democrats are advocating. "And there he was, talking nine to 10 years."

Typical Dimocrat.

[george76]

Wapo loves these particularly despicable democrats.

[Allegra]

I've never been in a convoy where soldiers hung out of windows. We always kept them shut, since they are bulletproof and we were not.

Agreed.

I've been in Iraq three and a half years now and have never seen soldiers hanging out of windows. I ride in those convoys because I work directly with the military. This is made-up crap.

So typical of the lying, agenda-driven left.

[Allegra]

The meetings "made me feel more determined that the policy is going to have to be set in Washington, that the Congress is going to have to exert its will here to end this war surrender."

Use the proper phrase, you lily-livered, Democrat coward.

[george76]

Wapo gets it wrong, again :

I've never been in a convoy where soldiers hung out of windows. We always kept them shut, since they are bulletproof and we were not.

[AliVeritas]

Sheesh ping

[AliVeritas]

Yep... no hanging out windows.

[elhombrelibre]

Out in 9 months??? If so, we’ll be back in in 9 months too.

[EDINVA]

maybe I’m reading this wrong, but the WaPo article seems to stress that she saw nothing ... one day trip; didn’t venture outside Green Zone, had military protection when she did, and also gives her background as an anti-war, anti-troop Congresscritter. If they really wanted to tilt the story, they’d have left that out, and written as if her one-day trip and what she did see was an epiphany.

[freema]

said she asked U.S. officials about the consequences of withdrawal, and she conceded that "they painted a very dire picture." She looked again through her notebook for a Petraeus quote. "He said: 'If you don't like the humanitarian crisis, the refugees and the internally displaced people, you can't draw down. If you are concerned about these people, the humanitarian crisis, you should be for our staying here.' "

In the next room, her Iraqi Christian constituents were still waiting. Schakowsky said she didn't respond to Petraeus; she let the comment drift by. "I was not arguing," she said. "I wanted to see what his take was."

[sono]

Edwards does have a point - There ARE two Americas - One reads Michael Yon and Ralph Peters, supports the troops and the mission and sees the potential for a humiliating defeat for Al Qaeda from which they might never recover. The other reads the Washgington Compost and follows the Daily Kossacks, says they support the troops but don’t support their mission and see the potential for a humiliating defeat for America from which we may never recover. Which America would you want to live in?

[george76]

Wapo is overly excited about her bravery and courage in facing the Iraqi heat :

And the stifling heat that felt "like a hair dryer on the back of your neck."

[elpadre]

I believe both the Congreewoman and the General are wrong for the following reason:

If freedom is an objective in the Mideast then I submit the following:

In Europe we have maintained a military force for over 60 years and they have had freedom, peace and prosperity after two bitter and bloody wars.

In Japan we have maintained a military force for over 60 years and they have had freedom, peace and properity after a bitter and bloody war.

In South Korea we have maintained a military force for almost 47 years and they have had freedom, peace and prosperity following a bitter and bloody war. (I was there as 2nd Lt., Arty in ‘52))

In the Mid-East we will have to maintain miltary force for many years if they are to know freedom, peace and properity.

The fact is that the world peace makers are not politicians, not any religious leaders I know about, but the American military forces. In my life time they have successfully taken on the mantle of world peace makers. May God continue to bless those men and women wearing the American flag on their shoulder.