Reid vs. Reid: A State Of Confusion

The White House ^ | April 23, 2007 | The White House

[mdittmar]

Reid vs. Reid: A State Of Confusion
Sen. Reid's State Of Confusion On The Iraq Study Group Report, Regional Conference, Funding For Political Reconciliation, And His Discussion With The President

  White House News

      Setting the Record Straight

"Sen. Reid seems to be in a state of confusion.  Today, he said the President 'ignored' the Iraq Study Group by sending more troops to secure Baghdad when the Iraq Study Group report said it would support this step.  Sen. Reid also called for a regional conference when one is already set to begin in days, called for emphasizing political reconciliation in Iraq when the Senate's own bill cuts $243 million vital for political reconciliation, and said his meetings with the President are unproductive despite characterizing his discussion with the President last Wednesday as a 'good exchange' minutes after the meeting concluded."

– White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino, 4/23/07

IN CASE SEN. REID MISSED IT: The Iraq Study Group Endorsed Using Additional Forces To Stabilize Baghdad

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV): "By ordering his troop surge," the President "ignored the advice of the Iraq Study Group."  (Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Remarks On Iraq, Washington, DC, 4/23/07)

• Iraq Study Group Report: "We could, however, support a short-term redeployment or surge of American combat forces to stabilize Baghdad, or to speed up the training and equipping mission, if the U.S. commander in Iraq determines that such steps would be effective."  ("The Iraq Study Group Report," 2006)

• Iraq Study Group Co-Chair James A. Baker, III: "Setting a deadline for withdrawal regardless of conditions in Iraq makes even less sense today because there is evidence that the temporary surge is reducing the level of violence in Baghdad.  As Baghdad goes, so goes Iraq.  The Iraq Study Group said it could support a short-term surge to stabilize Baghdad or to speed up training and equipping of Iraqi soldiers if the U.S. commander in Iraq determines such steps would be effective.  Gen. David Petraeus has so determined."  (James A. Baker, III, Op-Ed, "A Path to Common Ground," The Washington Post, 4/5/07)

IN CASE SEN. REID MISSED IT: Regional Conference To Begin In 10 Days

Sen. Reid: "The first thing that needs to be done is a regional conference."  "Have, as the Iraq Study Group said, have the United States meet with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and, yes, Iran, to sit down and see what we can do to resolve the issues that are so ugly in Iraq."  (Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Remarks On Iraq, Washington, DC, 4/23/07)

• A regional conference is scheduled for early May: "Ministers from Iraq's neighboring countries, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and industrialized nations will hold a meeting in Egypt early next month to discuss the situation in Iraq, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Saturday. … Ministers from Iraq's neighbors as well as Bahrain and Egypt, and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, will hold a meeting in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik on May 3-4, Zebari said. … Also in attendance, Zebari said, will be officials from the so-called Group of Eight industrialized nations: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S." ("Ministers From 20 Countries To Meet In Egypt Over Iraq Next Month," The Associated Press, 4/7/07)

IN CASE SEN. REID MISSED IT: The Senate Bill Cuts Funds For Political Reconciliation While Saying Reconciliation Is Key

Sen. Reid: "General Petraeus has said the ultimate solution in Iraq is a political one, not a military one."  (Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Remarks On Iraq, Washington, DC, 4/23/07)

• Of the President's FY 2007 supplemental request, the Senate cut $243 million in critical programs that would help the Iraqis meet important political and economic benchmarks.  The Senate added $120 million to the President's request, of which $70 million is for refugees and internally displaced persons and $50 million is for a specific USAID program, leaving a net cut from the President's request of $243 million. 

• The $243 million in net Senate cuts included:

• $70 million to build the governing capacity of local governments.
• $50 million to help the Iraqis draft and implement key legislative and legal reforms.
• 50 million to support rule of law programs so Iraqis can better govern themselves.
• $43 million to promote democracy and civil society efforts.
• $40 million to build the governing capacity of the national government.
• $10 million for private sector development.
• $100 million to support our diplomatic mission and civilian presence, including $41 million for supporting the doubling the PRTs.

• President Bush: "We fully recognize that there has to be political progress and economic progress, along with military progress, in order for that government to succeed."  (President George W. Bush, Remarks, East Grand Rapids, MI, 4/20/07)

IN CASE SEN. REID MISSED IT: Sen. Reid's Own Comments After Meeting With The President

Sen. Reid today: "We don't have meetings with the President, not real substantive meetings, he holds carefully scripted sessions where he repeats his talking points."  (Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Remarks On Iraq, Washington, DC, 4/23/07)

• Sen. Reid immediately following last Wednesday's meeting: "Well, we had an hour-long meeting with the President. It was a good exchange; everyone voiced their considered opinion about the war in Iraq – the conversation was with the war in Iraq, that's basically all it was, with a few variations, but mainly that. ... [P]eople gave their opinions, they gave their considered opinion what was going wrong and right with the war in Iraq. And I think we have too little of that. I think it was extremely important the President hear from us. And he heard from us in detail. And I think he needs to hear more of conversations from people like us – who don't always tell him what he wants to hear. I think we told him things today that he needed to hear." (Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Remarks After Meeting With The President, Washington, DC, 4/18/07)
  
  
  • Speaker Pelosi on the meeting: "I think the conversation that we had is the basis for future conversations on this.  But each side was very clear with its position that that doesn't mean that that's the end of the conversation.  And that is what is known as a negotiation and government, that it's not just one meeting."  (Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Remarks After Meeting With The President, Washington, DC, 4/18/07)

[doc1019]

Reid is a political hack, trying to outlive KKK Byrd. And trying (successfully) to be just a stupid.

[Basheva]

Pelosi wants “negotiation” with the president.

There’s nothing to negotiate - he’s Commander in Chief.

Her real problem is she wants to be Commander in Chief.

Harry Reid just wants to go home.

I wish he would.

An American can voice his/her opinion, however, because Reid is in the powerful position, his words have consequences.

Therefore, Harry Reid is a traitor.

Underminging the morale of the military while it is on the battle field - is the act of a traitor.

[Basheva]

“Underminging” should be “undermining”

I really wish we could edit our posts for errors.

[technomage]

The Dims in Congress know exactly what they are doing when they cut the 243 million dollars for Iraqi governing capacity.

The Dims cannot, and will not, allow the USA to win in Iraq. It is transparent. For us to win would be devastating to the Dims.

[acapesket]

oh for goodness sakes.. Harry had a little cerebral issue a few years ago!
If he’s not following Queen Nancy’s directions to the letter, it’s not Really Harry’s fault.
He just needs an EBD teacher.
English by Democrat.

[mtntop3]

What a fetid little mouse Reid is.

[Marine_Uncle]

And that is the essence of the matter. If Iraq shows huge signs of stabilization over the next year, then not only are the demorats in serious trouble but the whole world of liberalism. Imagine how the French, Germans, Italians, and other liberalized countries are going to feel, if the US, Brits, Australians, Spanish, Poles, Japanese and other coalition of the willing are proven to have taken the correct measures regarding Iraq.
At any rate. Gotta hit the sack. Have a great upcoming day.

[doc1019]

Why should we when we have all the “grammar and spelling” Nazis around. I understood exactly what the poster had to say. I often, in my eagerness, post things without checking … most except and understand my post … with the exception of the self-designated “spelling” person of record.

Going with the flow is part of the posting protocol here. Wasting our time correcting others takes away from the overall “flow” of the thread.

Give it a rest.

By the way, you can find at least three spelling errors and two of a grammatical nature in the first two paragraphs of this retort. Go for it.

[LibLieSlayer]

I emailed him and told him he was a traitor. If you have not done so... you should.

LLS

[imskylark]

I e-mailed him a copy of this. Thought he should know, in case he missed it. ;-)

[CyberAnt]

Am I dreaming ..?? This is coming from the WH ..??

I’m in shock!

[TampaDude]

Reid = Traitor

He needs to resign now.

[headstamp]

This just goes to show that this whole issue is just pure politics with the Dems, nothing more. It’s to the point where they don’t even care about having a good “liar's memory”. The MSM is running interference for them anyway.

Reid is the poster boy for it. Him and his gang of bastards in Congress are getting people killed right now.

[antceecee]

You have assessed their motives to a “T”.

[cookcounty]

"Am I dreaming ..?? This is coming from the WH ..??

I’m in shock!

It's pretty bad when the only serious fighting support our troops are getting from their own government is from the WH Deputy Press Secretary. Couldn't we pul-leeze have ONE Senator with as much balls as Dana?

[missnry]

Harry Reid is a traitor by definition. Every Representative, Senator and the White House need to start calling Senator Reid what he IS and stop playing politics with our troops.
... treason is the crime of disloyalty to one's nation. A person who betrays the nation of their citizenship and/or reneges on an oath of loyalty and in some way willfully cooperates with an enemy, is considered to be a traitor.

[CyberAnt]

Here’s an idea. Everybody make a copy of the info on the WH website and insert it into your email (don’t make it an attachment - computers in congress won’t read it) - and send it to every repub you can find in congress - ASK THEM WHERE THEIR SPINE IS LOCATED - AND IF THEY’RE SITTING ON IT - THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED!!

Remind them we all took the “PLEDGE” to stop sending them money !!

[TBP]

Reid’s remarks give aid and comfort to the enemy. He should be removed form the Senate and appropriate action should be taken against him.

[rockrr]

You did notice that Basheva was correcting his/her own spelling, right?