Posted on 01/26/2007 12:04:55 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Roberts Gates said Friday that a congressional resolution opposing President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq amounts to undercutting U.S. commanders in a way that "emboldens the enemy."
At his first Pentagon news conference since taking office, Gates was asked his reaction to the debate in Congress over the effect of such a nonbinding resolution. "It's pretty clear that a resolution that in effect says that the general going out to take command of the arena shouldn't have the resources he thinks he needs to be successful certainly emboldens the enemy and our adversaries," he said.
Gates talked to reporters as Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill prepared for the start debate next week on the resolution of opposition to President Bush's decision to send an additional 21,500 U.S. forces into battle in wartorn Iraq. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) said Friday that a quick test vote would likely be taken if Republicans try to delay or block the move.
Gates was referring to Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, who was confirmed by the full Senate on Friday to replace Gen. George Casey as the top American commander in Iraq. Petraeus has said he needs all 21,500 extra troops that Bush has ordered to Iraq in order to quell the raging sectarian violence in Baghdad.
"I think it's hard to measure that with any precision, but it seems pretty straightforward that any indication of flagging will in the United States gives encouragement to those folks," Gates said, referring to the anti-government forces in Baghdad. He added that he was certain this was not the intent of those who support the congressional resolution.
"But that's the effect," he said.
Thanks for expanding on your comment. I had to check and see if you may have left off the sarcasm tag.
People who swear oaths can oft time find themseleves in a bit of conflicted position and that includes those who serve in the military.
I take it you would stand with those who are Active Duty and have come out recently and received press as to being opposed to a troop surge and the conflict in general?
Well known for giving aid and comfort....to the enemy.
Our armed forces, bless'em, have for ages made it possible for curs like Ms. Benjamin to criticize her country.
Her exercising her right of protest does not guarantee that right. The soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines and coast guardsmen take care of that.
Is is called freedopm of speech and it goes both ways. Are you smart enough to understand that.
News ping
Michael Yon writes some good stuff from Iraq in his blog. He is embedded with the Army at this time.
Go to: http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/desolate-roads-part-one.htm
Greetings:
After spending most of 2005 in Iraq, five months of which were in Mosul, I am back to report on the progress and obstacles. There remain only a handful of US soldiers in Mosul, and they continue to fight every day. The Iraqi Security Forces here are vastly improved from 2005. Mosul is a key and critical city in this war. The terrorists want it badly. Practically the only thing standing between Mosul and the terrorists are the Iraqis who are tired of the violence, and the small group of American soldiers who are vastly outnumbered.
I am again with an American infantry unit, this time it is the 2/7 Cavalry, based in Texas. During the first week of my embed, the battalion lost 6 soldiers killed in action, and 1 interpreter. Others were severely wounded. They also were fighting back and inflicting worse damage on the enemy. "Desolate Roads Part 1 of 2," the dispatch now posted on the site, chronicles singular moments from the past two weeks in Mosul.
My request to extend the embed with the 2/7 Cavalry has been approved and I am looking forward to being able to observe and report on the dynamic situation on the ground here. Already, two of my camera lenses, my ballistic goggles and other expensive gear have been damaged beyond repair. The support of readers will determine how much longer I will be able to continue this work.
Very Respectfully,
Michael
Michael Yon
P O Box 416
Westport Pt MA 02791
PS: Our apologies for two server melt-downs that crashed the site after recent dispatches were published. We switched to a dedicated server and new company.
>>shouldn't have the resources he thinks he needs to be successful
That's the whole point. They don't want you to be successful. They think the country voted for surrender. They do not get it.
Great article, thanks for posting it...
I noticed that when Carter was POTUS, he cut funding for ships and submarines by about 80%...and yet, isn't there a submarine NAMED for that yahoo???
No - here's a better idea. Why don't we do everything we can to encourage our enemies?
Are you smart enough to point me to where I claimed that expressing political views was treason? Oh, that's right. I didn't.
Those who are expressing the view should think about how they'll feel when President Clinton commits troops to a war they don't like.
Probably similar to the way the felt - and acted - when the last President Clinton sent troops to Kosovo.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Insurgency denied Gates' allegation saying, "We are deeply moved by the respect you are showing your troops by cutting off their reinforcements when they are in the process of chasing our sorry camelbumpers out of Baghdad and are not emboldened in any such way, by Allah.
What in the hell are you talking about? I agree with the 99% on here that think that Chuck Hagel, Peloser, Jack Mothra, Sheeman and others of that ilk are %100 scum. They can be rightfully called many negative things. They do nothing but embolden our enemies into thinking that they can win.
Sen. Chris Dodd (D) of Connecticut, POTUS candidate for 2008, was on the Senate floor TODAY, and said that next week, he will present a bill calling for funding for the war to be STOPPED.
Also, he and Biden (also a POTUS candidate) have made promises that they are going to hold hearings, and have the judiciary hold hearings to find out if they can legally FORCE Pres. Bush to have to come back to Congress for permission to continue the war in Iraq, because, they say....the goal of the bill they all voted on in 2003, HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED...
Since Saddam and sons are dead, and there is a democratic government, they say that the war THEY voted for is OVER...and so Pres. Bush HAS to come back and make a case for staying any longer in Iraq.
I spent 13 months in Iraq and this so called non-binding resolution is not only a slap in the face of the men and women serving in hostile fire situations, but it DOES give aid in comfort to the enemy during war time. JessM
the goal of the bill they all voted on in 2003, HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED...
That would have been a nice thing to highlight before the elections, you sick political SOB.
(referring to Biden et al, of course) should have been more specific.
Sign the pledge
http://truthlaidbear.com/thenrscpledge/
Please tell the candidates in the ’08 cycle especially – Alexander, Collins, Coleman and Smith and would be presidential nominees McCain and Brownback — that a vote for the Warner resolution is the end of support for them and the NRSC.
Senator Alexander’s phone: (202) 224-4944. His e-mail form is here: http://alexander.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Senator Brownback’s phone: (202) 224-6521. His e-mail form is here: http://brownback.senate.gov/CMEmailMe.cfm
Senator Coleman’s phone: (202) 224-5641.His e-mail form is here: http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm
Senator Collins’ phone: (202) 224-2523. Her e-mail form is here: http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSenatorCollins.Email&CFID=39113496&CFTOKEN=99427497
Senator McCain's phone: (202) 224-2235. His campaign e-mail form is here: http://www.exploremccain.com/Contact/
Senator Smith’s phone: (202) 224-3753. His e-mail form is here: http://gsmith.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Senator Voinovich's phone: (202) 224-3353. His e-mail form is here: http://voinovich.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
The GOP leadership, which need to announce that no resolution will voted on that encourages the enemy, and that includes the Warner resolution or any cousin of the Warner resolution:
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s phone is (202) 224-2541. His e-mail form is here: http://mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm
Minority Whip Trent Lott’s phone is (202) 224-6253. His e-mail form is here: http://lott.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Email
Senator Jon Kyl’s phone is (202) 224-4521. His e-mail form is here: http://kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Senator John Ensign’s phone is (202) 224-6244. His e-mail form is here: http://ensign.senate.gov/forms/email_form.cfm
Sign the pledge
http://truthlaidbear.com/thenrscpledge/
Oh, no, that isn't going to happen...because before they decided to go for this new legislation...they have ALL been ridiculing Pres. Bush and Cheney, and anyone else that have pointed out that they have made some great accomplishments over there...
Good news doesn't sell or advance the agenda of the left and its sympathizers.. blood and gore and the more the better,, why do you think the terrorists are working overtime of late? and the left is so eager to make sure their message gets out and not that of those in Iraq who stand to benefit most from peace in that region.
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