Posted on 01/19/2007 12:51:42 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - In a critique the White House labeled as "poisonous," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) charged Friday that President Bush is wading too deeply into Iraq and said it should not be "an obligation of the American people in perpetuity."
Pelosi said Bush "has dug a hole so deep he can't even see the light on this. It's a tragedy. It's a stark blunder."
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino retorted that Pelosi's comments were "poisonous," referring to the portion of Pelosi's statement that asserted Bush is rushing new troops there and betting that Congress won't cut off funds once they're in battle.
"It's certainly not in keeping with the bipartisan spirit and civility that the Democrats pledged and that we looked forward to," Perino said. "Speaker Pelosi was arguing in essence that the president is putting young men and women in harm's way for tactical political reasons. She's questioning his motivations rather than questioning his policies."
Democratic support is building around a resolution that would rebuff Bush's plans for more troops to Iraq, and more Republicans are looking for ways to sign on to the measure.
As the White House scrambled to secure the dwindling backers of Bush's war policies on Capitol Hill, Republican Sen. Gordon Smith (news, bio, voting record) of Oregon signaled that a simple wording change could persuade him to join the Democrats.
Pelosi said House Democrats would back a Senate Democratic resolution declaring that the troop increase is "not in the national interest of the United States." Senate leaders expect to begin action on the nonbinding measure next Wednesday.
Senate Democrats, backed by two Republicans, unveiled legislation Wednesday that criticized Bush's decision. "It is not in the national interest of the United States to deepen its military involvement in Iraq, particularly by escalating the United States military force presence in Iraq," the nonbinding Senate measure states.
Smith said his reluctance to back the resolution hinged on the word "escalating," which he said is a partisan term that unnecessarily inflames the issue. He said he is working with Sens. Susan Collins (news, bio, voting record), R-Maine, and Ben Nelson (news, bio, voting record), D-Neb. on a "constructive, nonpartisan resolution that expresses the opposition of the Senate to the surge."
Pelosi's attack came as Lee Hamilton, the Democratic co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group, told a House panel that Bush's plan to deploy 21,500 additional troops to secure Baghdad and Anbar province would delay progress in training Iraqi security forces.
The bipartisan Iraq Study Group recommended removing U.S. combat troops by early next year, and changing the U.S. mission from security to training and logistical support of Iraqi troops.
"You delay the date of completion of the training mission. You delay the date of handing responsibility to the Iraqis. You delay the date of departure of U.S. troops" from the region, Hamilton told the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the buildup.
Bush and senior administration officials have been laboring to limit Republican defections.
"He said, 'If you can help us out, I really appreciate your help,'" Sen. Wayne Allard (news, bio, voting record), R-Colo., said after a White House meeting with the commander in chief.
Republican lawmakers in both houses are expected to draft alternative legislation, in part to give party members a measure to support rather than merely oppose what Democrats draft. Officials said one possibility under discussion is an alternative that supports the troop increase as long as the Iraqi government meets certain conditions.
Administration supporters have expressed concerns the president faces a bipartisan repudiation of significant proportions.
So far, Republican Sens. Chuck Hagel (news, bio, voting record) of Nebraska and Olympia Snowe (news, bio, voting record) of Maine have said they back the resolution.
Sen. Norm Coleman (news, bio, voting record), R-Minn., echoed Smith's opposition to the troop increase but also said "there are some things in the resolution I don't agree with, and so we're kind of looking at language."
Bush's meeting with lawmakers was his third session in as many days as he struggles to build support for an increase in troops for a war that is opposed by the public and played a role in Republican setbacks in last fall's elections. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley traveled to the Capitol to meet with House Republicans.
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Associated Press writers David Espo, Matthew Daly, Barry Schweid, Jennifer Talhelm and Fred Frommer contributed to this report.
ya hear John Warner is also now onboard the resolution of no support for the surge.. Bastards!
It's times like this that makes me wonder if we
have a few generations of people who will sell out
our country for a few pieces of gold.....and will
cower in the corner when the terrorists come after us..
Will you sand up and fight for good old USA?? JK
When it comes to fighting the terrorist over here I will fight to save myself and my family. I will not fight to save any liberals known to me.
When the metal meets the meat, those with the guns & ammo will be too busy ensuring the safety and survival of themselves and their own to give any aid to the present-day malcontents. Liberals will be hoisted on their own petard; no guns, no ammo, no fight, no future. Their notions of Utopian political dynasty will end as all others have: in painful bloody gore, as they die with the sound of jihadis beheadiing their infant children ringing in their ears.
In that day, their cries for mercy will be heard by no one; not even God.
Any who do not prepare to fight must prepare to DIE.
He's getting to appear to be "milk toast" isn't he?
He sounds almost as wishy washy as Kerry in his statement.
He sure doesn't appear to be the same Norm of past times when he showed backbone.
Boy, Smith sure appears to be a bucket full of conviction.
That picture gives me the chills. She's positively scary.
Places where we have succeeded:
- Western Europe
- Japan
- South Korea
Places where we have failed:
- Southeast Asia
- Somalia
What distinguishes the first group from the second is, in the case of the first group, we stayed.
"I am really starting to become very disappointed in Sen. Coleman" Starting? The Ammensty bill last year did not do it for you?
Definately a Start failure - a Pete Stark failure!
Sure he is! We either stop the terrorists where they live or we stop them here. A lesson, I'm afraid, we will learn the hard way.
Very well put. And, of course correct.
*snicker*
Iraq will eventually settle down and we will be out. But paying for Nancy Pelosi's Democrat-sponsored nanny state will surely be "an obligation of the American people in perpetuity".
Coleman is a disappointment. That's what happens to conservatives elected to the Senate. They become milquetoast squishy RINOs.
Coleman and Hagel are toast in the next election.
..and with "ears" like he has he could hear a field mouse under a foot of snow
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