BETRAYING AMERICA

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01282007/postopinion/editorials/betraying_america_editorials_.htm ^

[LC HOGHEAD]

January 28, 2007 -- What a bunch of hypocrites.

Congressional Democrats, having just given their imprimatur to President Bush's new Iraq-theater commander, are about to declare that the officer shouldn't have the resources he needs to get the job done.

Or, as Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday: "A resolution that in effect says that the general going out to take command of the arena" - that would be Lt. Gen. David Petraeus - "shouldn't have the resources he thinks he needs to be successful certainly emboldens the enemy and our adversaries."

Notwithstanding Gates' warning - and a similar one from Petraeus - the Democrats are moving ahead with a non-binding resolution declaring President Bush's troop surge "not in the national interest.

Even worse, some are raising the possibility of cutting off money pledged by the president to aid in Iraq's reconstruction - an obviously less politically risky move than actually defunding the troops.

So paint them cowards as well as hypocrites.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are so determined to undercut the president that they have little regard for the consequences of their actions. Yet the stakes are as high as they can get.

"The pressure is from some quarters to get out of Iraq," said Vice President Dick Cheney. "If we were to do that, we would simply validate the terrorists' strategy that says the Americans . . . don't have the stomach for the fight."

Those admonitions notwithstanding, the Democratic majority (aided, sad to say, by some nervous Republicans) appears determined to micromanage the war - a responsibility not granted to Congress by the Constitution (or even by the War Powers Act).

[prognostigaator]

So paint them cowards as well as hypocrites

Supposin' that Flight 93 made it to the capitol dome, then what would you paint them?

[BackInBlack]

Relax -- don't DUify this place.

[PISANO]

There are times when I shake my head in disbelief that this is the same country in which I was born.

The changes that have taken place in our culture within my 65 years is simply staggering!!

I remember not understanding what my mother meant when she said the world had passed her by and she no longer fits.......now I understand!!

[johna61]

Add Jimma peanut farmer and his buddy Patsy Buchanan to the list too.

[Gritty]

[gulfcoast6]

And there is Hagel.....

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Notwithstanding Gates' warning - and a similar one from Petraeus - the Democrats are moving ahead with a non-binding resolution declaring President Bush's troop surge "not in the national interest."

Why don't thye just make it binding? Let's get everyone on record. Non-binding means they are cowards and want a way out in case the resolution goes the other way.

[El Gato]

Supposin' that Flight 93 made it to the capitol dome, then what would you paint them?

I suspect most would have been hustled out by their security people. Those that were even there at such an early hour of the morning.

The clerical and other non policy staffers would have taken the hit.

[DWPittelli]

Perhaps this is old news to you, but I think we should all consider the NRSC Pledge, supported by Hugh Hewitt and many other conservative bloggers, at www.thenrscpledge.com. To wit:

If the United States Senate passes a resolution, non-binding or otherwise, that criticizes the commitment of additional troops to Iraq that General Petraeus has asked for and that the president has pledged, and if the Senate does so after the testimony of General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy, I will not contribute to any Republican senator who voted for the resolution. Further, if any Republican senator who votes for such a resolution is a candidate for re-election in 2008, I will not contribute to the National Republican Senatorial Committee unless the Chairman of that Committee, Senator Ensign, commits in writing that none of the funds of the NRSC will go to support the re-election of any senator supporting the non-binding resolution.

[hnorris]

Relax -- It was a joke.