Posted on 01/31/2005 10:06:51 PM PST by Former Military Chick
Congress' top two Democrats said yesterday that there should not be a set schedule for pulling troops out of Iraq, contradicting Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's call on Thursday for the United States to withdraw 12,000 troops immediately and complete a full withdrawal by early 2006.
"As far as setting a timeline, as we learned in the Balkans, that's not a wise decision, because it only empowers those who don't want us there. And it doesn't work well to do that," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat.
On Thursday, Mr. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, gave a speech calling for an immediate withdrawal of some troops as a way of showing that the United States does not intend to be an occupying force and then called for the military to come up with a plan for complete pullout in early 2006.
But House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, who joined Mr. Reid for a "prebuttal" to President Bush's upcoming State of the Union address, said the critical element is having a clear set of goals.
"It's not about a calendar; it's about performance," Mrs. Pelosi said when asked whether she agreed with Mr. Kennedy's call.
But she said the administration still hasn't laid out a clear set of performance goals so Americans can judge progress.
"But if you have no plan, no road map, no standards, it's very hard to judge whether you have succeeded and whether it's time to come home," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Sailing Skills Practical Test: Execute, with comfort and confidence: Rigging, leaving a dock/beach, starting, stopping and speed control, safety position, getting out of irons, sailing backward, tacking, jibing, steering with sails and weight, proper sail trim, judging laylines, capsize and overboard recovery, returning to dock/beach, unrigging.
Democraps are turning into the Keystone Cops with each passing day....good riddance.
Excerpt: Mr. Bush delivers the annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress tomorrow, and Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Reid, in dual speeches at the National Press Club yesterday, previewed his challenge.
Both said they don't have high expectations for his ORATORY.
Mr. Reid, compared the president unfavorably to former President Ronald Reagan, whose speeches he recalled being "mesmerized by."
"I was watching what he (REAGAN) was saying and not hearing what he was saying because he was so good," Mr. Reid said. "I don't think that's a danger we're going to have Wednesday night."
Mrs. Pelosi said the bar is fairly low for Mr. Bush to get a good reception — at least from the Republicans who will pack the room.
"You really don't have to have many communications skills to have a couple hundred people who will jump to their feet if you recite the ABCs," she said.
Mr. Reid said he thinks that the administration does deserve credit for doing one thing well — "their ability to misdirect."
You had to hear the tone they used when they were saying this. They put down everyone in America who doesn't speek like they do. This needs put out to Rush Etc. and get out over the airwaves.
Karen
Speaking of arrogance (I know, we weren't), notice how Russert's show is called "Meet The Press" when you're really meeting only one guy. Kind of like Scheiffer's "Face the Nation" when you're really just facing a couple of Dem synchopant reporters.
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