Democrats may unite on plan to pull troops

Boston Globe ^ | February 20, 2006 | Rick Klein

[AZRepublican]

WASHINGTON -- After months of trying unsuccessfully to develop a common message on the war in Iraq, Democratic Party leaders are beginning to coalesce around a broad plan to begin a quick withdrawal of US troops and install them elsewhere in the region, where they could respond to emergencies in Iraq and help fight terrorism in other countries.

The concept, dubbed ''strategic redeployment," is outlined in a slim, nine-page report coauthored by a former Reagan administration assistant Defense secretary, Lawrence J. Korb, in the fall. It sets a goal of a phased troop withdrawal that would take nearly all US troops out of Iraq by the end of 2007, although many Democrats disagree on whether troop draw-downs should be tied to a timeline.

Howard Dean, Democratic National Committee chairman, has endorsed Korb's paper and begun mentioning it in meetings with local Democratic groups. In addition, the study's concepts have been touted by the senator assigned to bring Democrats together on Iraq -- Jack Reed of Rhode Island -- and the report has been circulated among all senators by Senator Dianne Feinstein, an influential moderate Democrat from California.

The party remains divided on some points, including how much detail to include in a party-produced document, fearful of giving too much fodder for attacks by Republicans.

[IamConservative]

Why don't we retreat from Detroit?

In all of Iraq in January '06, 45 Americans lost their lives.

In Detroit in January of '06, 40 Americans lost thier lives.

(Quoting these stats second hand from an article over the weekend, can't remember the name of it for direct attribution. Perhaps someone will and can be so kind..)

[Patriot from Philly]

Korb is a Soros funded leftist. They use his Reagan era credentials to pretend he's a conservative. I realized something was wrong when they had the big fuss in South Korea about the traffic accident where two Korean girls were killed. Korb's position was to turn the GIs over to the Koreans to settle the issue.

[OldFriend]

Murtha's brilliant plan is to redeploy to Okinawa.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Well, I believe what the article means to say is that even tho the Dems have no power ,and the majority of Americans are afraid of them in power- they are acting like they do have power-

... and the MSM will continue trying to hoodwink the public into believing that the Dems have power, no matter how ridiculous they appear to the rest of us.

It is all an illusion... over power- see? :]

[P-40]

where they could respond to emergencies in Iraq


In other words, withdraw then retake the same area you previously took, withdraw and then do the same thing again, all the while taking flak for not only killing the enemy but also people you didn't intend to. Sounds like a...plan.

[OldFriend]

John Gambling on WABC radio has Korb on regularly to bash the President and the war.

He is always touted as a republican who was in the first President Bush administration.

I usually call in to the call screener and blast Gambling for having him on a guest.

[JCEccles]

The concept, dubbed ''strategic redeployment,"

"Strategic redeployment" is demspeak for "abject surrender."

If I were a political cartoonist I would depict this as a variation on the Iwo Jima flag-raising theme, with Pelosi, Murtha, Dean, Kennedy, and Clinton tossing the uprooted flag over the summit and charging screaming in full-tilt terror down the mountainside, abandoning to radical Islam the bodies of the good and brave Marines who planted that flag.

[Timeout]

Better yet, depict Murtha, Clinton, Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry et all raising the equivalent of the Iwo Jima flag....just make the flag a white one.

In typical Dem fashion, here they are trying to devise a plan 3 YEARS INTO THE WAR. Just when are they going to release this plan? The day after the Pentagon announces even more troop withdrawals? When violence has subsided to the point that even their friends in the media can't flog that meme?

Sheesh...the Keystone Kommanders.

[metesky]

Not on drugs, just writes for El Globo.

[Dilbert56]

OK Dimocrats,

1. What friendly country is within helicopter range of Baghdad?
2. How vulnerable would troop-laden helicopters be coming at a time and place chosen by the enemy?
3. How many helicopters have to be shot down to equal one week's worth of casualties under the current deployment?
4. How do you win hearts and minds from 300 miles away?
5. Why do you think Democrat Congressmen and Congresswomen know how to fight a war better than people who have made a career of it?
6. Lastly, how is this different from Vietnam where we broke our promise to defend an ally after withdrawing?

Dimocrat Answers:

1. None - you're getting "hyper-technical" by asking these questions and we don't like you questioning our patriotism.
2. Very - but we want casualties to provide an excuse for reneging on support later.
3. We weren't told there was any math on this quiz
4. You can't - but they're Iraqi civilians who can't vote for us.
5. Because we conned people into electing us so we're experts on everything
6. It isn't - we want Iraq to turn into Vietnam. What are a few million innocent lives compared to us regaining political power?

[BadAndy]

"Democratic Party leaders are beginning to coalesce around a broad plan to begin a quick withdrawal..."

We should call this the "French" gambit.

[PzLdr]

"This meeting of the Neville Chamberlain Society will please come to order!"

[hermgem]

This redeployment strategy came from Murtaugh this erstwhile war hero who now proclaimed that the U.S. military is broke and needs to get out now.
Shows what former heroes are uttering when leadership changes from military to the likes of Reid, Schumer, Turbin, Pelosi takes place.

[jch10]

Which one of the Democrats is Commander-in Chief? My guess is the CIC will be making that decision.

[johnny7]

And the Boston Globe has decided on KY Jelly instead of Vaseline.

[dogcaller]

The Democrat plan is inspired by the English example of strategic redeployment from Dunkirk to Britain...the Brits did it to survive...the Dems think it will help them prosper.

[Doogle]

[Bean Counter]

Why should I believe that the 'Rats will agree on anything?? One of the hallmarks of the current litter of 'Rats is that they are a bunch of fringe groups united only in their hatred of Bush. they just got through trashing the only Veteran they had who was willing to run as a Rat, by accusing him of War Crimes!!

sheesh!

[Doogle]

[Zacs Mom]