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.
Surprise, Surprise!!
The supporters of the resolution(s) know that.
US President George W. Bush(R) meets with US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates(L) and the incoming Commander of Multi-National Force of Iraq, Army Lt. General David Petraeus(C) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. US forces in Iraq are targeting Iranian agents there for capture or killing under a tough new policy aimed at starving sectarian violence of outside support, US and Iraqi officials said.(AFP/Mannie Garcia)
A US soldier sits in front of a sign that reads, "We love our soldiers" at her forward operating base on the outskirts of Baghdad. US forces in Iraq are targeting Iranian agents there for capture or killing under a tough new policy aimed at starving sectarian violence of outside support, US and Iraqi officials said.(AFP/David Furst)
Republicans should of course vote against this travesty called a non-binding resolution,but they should in no way try to block it fom the floor. Let these goofy democrat traitors make fools of themselves.Let them prove the side they are on. which is of course the side of the terrorists.
This Gates guy isn't as bad as some Rummy Devotionalists claimed
Yes. No matter what is happening, we should express only fervent support for whatever comes out of the mouths of our leaders. Those who don't should be shot.
Medea Benjamin, right, co-founder of Code Pink, carries pairs of children's shoes before speaking at the 'Walk in Their Shoes' a installation of 6,500 shoes on the National Mall in Washington, Friday, Jan. 26, 2007. Each shoe is meant to represent 1,000 Iraqi civilians killed in the war. The shoes are donated by supporters and tagged with the name of an Iraqi killed in the war. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Roundtable still going on right now:
http://pentagonchannel.feedroom.com/iframeset.jsp?ord=190573
US Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee, 23 January 2007 in the Russel Senate Office Building in Washington, DC. The US Senate, deeply skeptical about the White House strategy in Iraq, unanimously confirmed the nomination of Petraeus as commander of US forces deployed in the country.(AFP/File/Mandel Ngan)
Godspeed General and a 101st Screaming Eagles Bump for my brother's old unit.
19,030 people have signed The Pledge thus far. Will you?
http://truthlaidbear.com/thenrscpledge/
Oh, sure, Gates, that IS the reason they are doing, don't give them any more credit than they deserve.
Okay..the Senate confirmed Gates and today, Gen. Petraeus....so let's see if they want to tell the last two people confirmed to run this war, that THEY ARE WRONG!!
They will, though....because Soros, and the other money people are insisting on it...and some of them want us to lose anyway.
Yes, it does.
bump
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi meet in Baghdad, Friday Jan 26, 2007, in this image released by the Iraqi Government. Pelosi has been a sharp critic of the Bush administration's conduct of the war and has led a drive in Congress against sending 21,500 more troops to the effort as part of a new security crackdown in Baghdad. Man in the center is an unidentified translator. (AP Photo/Iraqi Government)
Meanwhile, in the Green zone..
House Speaker Pelosi visits Iraq (with delegation including Murtha and other House members)
I don't know...do you think letting the Dems and Rinos make a fool of themselves is worth giving the enemy the benefit of seeing ANY resolution be voted on??
I don't....I think it is imperative that ANY resolution, other than a vote of confidence in Gen. Petraeus and the other military, be STOPPED.
Chuck Hagel - the Jihad's favorite Republican
I have already sent a very strong letter to the RNC.
Are you a veteran?
It's a great read and even more fun to read the howls of the leftists commenting there.
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