Posted on 12/07/2006 3:51:25 AM PST by BigSkyFreeper
WASHINGTON - Although the Iraq Study Group's report will not magically solve the problems in Iraq, the "hell of a good try" proves that politicians of opposite parties can work together on major issues, former Sen. Alan Simpson said Wednesday.
Iraq has become "one of the most vexatious problems of our lives," said Simpson, a Republican from Wyoming.
"This one is a tough one," he said. "We don't have a silver bullet."
Simpson and the other commission members presented their report to President Bush at 7 a.m. at the White House. An engaged Bush spent an hour with them, asked questions and took notes, Simpson said.
"He went around the room and asked each of us on the study group our thoughts," he said. "Each of us gave him very complete, candid assessments of our report."
Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and spokesman Tony Snow also attended the meeting, Simpson said.
Nothing in the report likely surprised Bush or Cheney, Simpson said, since the group kept in touch with the administration. But some things in it will "cause a difference of opinion," including the recommendation that the U.S. talk with Iran and Syria.
"Iran hates us," Simpson said. "They may not even want to come to the table... They may hate our guts, but there's something they hate more. That's anarchy in Iraq."
Simpson said during his turn to speak at the White House, he talked about the critical importance of bipartisanship and his sadness that the American people feel the federal government is "dysfunctional."
He said the group's work is an example of how politicians on both sides can come together on big issues.
"If it doesn't work, it was a hell of a good try," he said. "And if it doesn't work and people say the Republicans and the Democrats could get together and do something, well here it is."
He said the commission deliberately avoided "flash words" like "cut and run" or "stay the course."
Instead, he said, "We just threw out 79 recommendations."
At the group's press conference releasing their report to the public, Simpson used his trademark humor to bring the only moments of levity.
Simpson predicted that the report would draw criticism from people he termed "100 percenters."
"A 100 percenter is a person you don't want to be around," he said. "They have gas, ulcers, heartburn and they seethe. They're not seekers, they're seethers. There's a lot of them out there. And we're going to get it from the far right, we're going to get it from the far left. We're going to get, bombs away."
He added that many people will predict their recommendations can't work.
"But we're just sincere enough to believe that it will," he said. "... Maybe we can do something. That's what we're here for. People of goodwill and good faith. Maybe it's corny, maybe it won't work, but it's sure as hell better than sitting there where we are right now."
Any morsel that drips from Simpson's mouth is bunkum. So don't bite on this 100 percenter hookum. Churchill, Lincoln, Washington -- they were each and every one a 100%-er!
Trace most of our problems in Iraq back and you'll find people from the State Department, etc. who think exactly like Simpson.
Simpson was 100 percent pro-abort, as I recall, and got consistent donations from the abortion lobby.
Now someone give me a tenth of what the Iraq Study group spent.
You got that right!!!!!!
America isn't uniting behind the likes of Simpson and Hamilton, not to mention James "f*** the Jews" Baker.
They are betraying America and its one true ally in the Middle East, Israel.
The bastards.
Right on target. Here's hoping you don't get flamed too much.
which covers this sort of dysfunctionality from a European perspective.
And all winners.
And don't forget Reagan. Many of the same self-important fools were condemning Reagan for his full-open-throttle approach to the Russians in the Cold War.
The Simpson-Baker plan nothing more than a committeespeak version of Carter-style defeatism.
Everybody should go to mewzilla's link in #4. Pictures of Baker and Hamilton as surrender monkeys and one of the most spot-on editorials I've read in a while.
"Now someone give me a tenth of what the Iraq Study group spent."
Heck, I'd be happy with what they spent on caterers and florists.
Crap!
I was hoping it was Homer.
A Simpson I can depend on to have a logical idea or rational thought.
Not a members of James Baker's "The We Dont Want No Jooooooos Hanging 'Round Here, Gettem Outta the Middle East Blues Band".
No, absolutely do not. In War, total victory is the only plan. I was just making a side comparison to the one-issue voters...
"Iran hates us," Simpson said. "They may not even want to come to the table... They may hate our guts, but there's something they hate more. That's anarchy in Iraq."
This is in fact the most execrable, foolish, stupid, lexicon failing staement one could make. Where the hell is Mark Twain when you need him?
STFU Homer
LOL! Yeah, no kidding...
You mean work with our enemies to further our political goals?
Youre right. With that sort of thinking we might have allied with the Soviet Union or even supplied them with equipment. Thank God we never did that.
Someone should get Simpson a "HE HATE ME" jersey to wear.
It's worse than that, my friend, it's groundwork for making America Muslim. Muslim: the preferred religion of victims everywhere. Are you a victim? Be a Muslim!
Yes. Just think how much better off we'd be if we had only listed to Carter and unilaterally disarmed once it was obvious that we could never defeat the Soviet Union.
We need more patriots like Cater and Simpson who understand the true value and power of strategic retreat, surrender, and compromise in the face of pure evil.
"Iran hates us," Simpson said. "They may not even want to come to the table... They may hate our guts, but there's something they hate more. That's anarchy in Iraq."
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"You are either with us, or you are with the terrorists." (in which case we will ask you to the table to "talk" about it)
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