The Iraq Panic: Zarqawi's bombs hit their target in Washington.

The Wall Street Journal Opinion Journal ^ | June 27, 2005 | Editorial

[quidnunc]

"It's like they're just making it up as they go along. The reality is that we're losing in Iraq." – Senator Chuck Hagel (R., Neb.), June 27, 2005, U.S. News & World Report.

"And we are now in a seemingly intractable quagmire. Our troops are dying and there really is no end in sight." – Senator Ted Kennedy (D., Mass.), June 23, 2005, Armed Services Committee hearing.

The polls show the American people are growing pessimistic about Iraq, and no wonder. They are being rallied against the cause by such statesmen as the two above. Six months after they repudiated the insurgency in a historic election, free Iraqis are continuing to make slow but steady political and military gains. Where the terrorists are gaining ground is in Washington, D.C.

This is despite tangible, albeit underreported, progress in Iraq. In the political arena, an Iraqi transition government has formed that includes representatives from all ethnic and religious groups. Leading Sunnis who boycotted January's election are now participating both in the parliament and in drafting a new constitution. The Shiite uprising of a year ago has been defeated. The government now has three deadlines to meet: drafting a constitution by August, a referendum on that constitution in October and elections for a permanent government in December.

-snip-

[JCEccles]

Don't forget Lindsey Graham's pathetic hand-wringing and crying. Appalling.

Lindsey has really come disappoint a lot of people.

[Mo1]

Where the terrorists are gaining ground is in Washington, D.C.

Sums it up right there

[Paleo Conservative]

Maybe the rumors of the lightness of his loafers were true.

[angkor]

"...there really is no end in sight."

Sure there is. About 2025, when we turn our remaining bases over to the then-stable, prosperous, and democratically-elected Government Of Iraq.

Why aren't Kennedy and Hagel screaming that we pull out of Germany, South Korea, Japan, Turkey, England, and elsewhere?

[angkor]

Don't forget Lindsey Graham's pathetic hand-wringing and crying. Appalling.

I missed that one. Can you briefly elaborate?

[AntiGuv]

The rest of those maybe, but we're still at war with North Korea..

[txhurl]

Hear f' hear!

Krauthammer hopefully will rip you off next Sunday. Thanks for the reduction.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

A positive note here:

The War is Over, and We Won

I appended some narrative from several blogs yesterday.

[SandRat]

Sen Hagel! Sen Kennedy! Pay attention!

Dissent



Don’t Lead with Your Chin

[Ceebass]

Lindsey has really come disappoint a lot of people.

He contracted Scott Ritter syndrome.

[JCEccles]

In the same Senate hearing in which a surly and drunken Ted Kennedy asked Rumsfeld "Isn't it time for you to resign?" Lindsey said with this strain of wheedling anxiety in his voice, "Public support in my state is turning. People are beginning to question. And I-I-I don't think it's a blip on the radar screen. We have a chronic problem on our hands."

These are times in every battle and large venture when leadership is strictly tested. This is one of them. Lindsey is failing the test. He needs to be out in front of his constituents, helping the president defeat our enemies, not retiring to the safety of the shadows, quaking in fear before the malcontents.

[JCEccles]

In the same Senate hearing in which a surly and drunken Ted Kennedy asked Rumsfeld "Isn't it time for you to resign?" Lindsey said with this strain of wheedling anxiety in his voice, "Public support in my state is turning. People are beginning to question. And I-I-I don't think it's a blip on the radar screen. We have a chronic problem on our hands."

There are times in every battle and large venture when leadership is strictly tested. This is one of them. Lindsey is failing the test. He needs to be out in front of his constituents, helping the president defeat our enemies, not retiring to the safety of the shadows, quaking in fear before the malcontents.

[MJY1288]

I like Rummy's response to Lindsey Graham, when he said the people of his State were turning against the war, Rummy responded to Graham something like this: "That's when leadership is needed Senator!......."

Lindsey Graham a spineless worm who follows Polls. The fact of him mentioning the Polls, is all the proof I need to see that he is no leader if he thinks he worries about them. Graham is the one who is recommending an Independent Investigation into this non story at GITMO. I'm surprised he hasn't apologized for Karl Rove yet!

He is pathetic

[Texasforever]

I only have one request of GW in his speech this week. Look directly into the camera and state "I have been asked many times why I have not ask for more sacrifice from the American people if we are truly at war. I can now state why. According to the polls the American people have been found wanting in that endeavor.".

[JCEccles]

If Lindsey thinks playing the retro-McGovern antiwar card is somehow going to shore his support among the good conservative folk of South Carolina, I believe he is sadly mistaken. It may be just my opinion, but the South Carolinians I am associated with have no respect for weakness and flip-flopping.

[aquila48]

How true!!

The war in Iraq would be a piece of cake if we didn't have so many at home actively working for our defeat!

[Diddle E. Squat]

"It's like they're just making it up as they go along. The reality is that we're losing in Iraq." – Senator Chuck Hagel (R., Neb.), June 27, 2005, U.S. News & World Report.

I will never, ever, forgive Hagel for that statement. Other than being more subtle, wiley, and less vocal so far, what difference is there really in his intent and effect with this statement and those of Jane Fonda during Vietnam? Seriously, I'm not going for hyperbole, but he is actively undermining the war's efforts. And frankly, unless he's being completely snowballed by his staff, I don't think that he actually believes what he said, but rather has ulterior motives.

[MJY1288]

I watch and record most of the Defense related hearings in the Senate, and whenever things get a little rough, it's Lindsey Graham that's the first to tell us how worried he is.

From his worries about the Quagmire in Afghanistan to Abu Graib, GITMO, and now his deep concern that the people of his state are turning against the war.

Graham must be a subscriber to the NYT's and he must actually believe these "Push Polls" like last weeks Ipso Poll that sampled 20% more Democrats in order to conclude that 53% of Americans are now against the war. The Democrats truly believe they can win back the White House and the Majority in Congress if they can convince the Country that Iraq is another Vietnam.

Truly pathetic

[MJY1288]

Howdy Tex, long time no see!