Posted on 05/09/2007 5:55:32 PM PDT by kellynla
TIM RUSSERT, NBC NIGHTLY NEWS: Brian, all eyes on the Republican party. How long will they support the president's position on the Iraq War? Yesterday may have been a defining, pivotal moment.
At two-thirty in the afternoon, in the private quarters of the White House, the Solarium Room, eleven Republican congressmen had a private meeting with the president, the secretary of defense, the secretary of state, the chief political advisor Karl Rove, and the White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, and others.
This delegation was headed by Mark Kirk of Illinois and Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania. It was, in the words of one of the participants, the most unvarnished conversation they've ever had with the president.
Another member has said he has met with three presidents and never been so candid. They told the president, and one said, quote, "My district is prepared for defeat. We need candor, we need honesty, Mr. President."
The president responded, "I don't want to pass this off to another president. I don't want to pass this off, particularly, to a democratic president," underscoring he understood how serious the situation was.
Brian, the Republican congressmen went on to say, "The word about the war and its progress cannot come from the White House or even you, Mr. President. There's no longer any credibility. It has to come from General Petraeus.
The meeting lasted an hour and fifteen minutes, and was, in the words of one, " remarkable for the bluntness, and no holds barred honesty and the message delivered by all these Republican congressmen.
BRIAN WILLIAMS: And Tim...how did the president react and how did this then affect the instructions for VP Cheney heading off to Iraq?
RUSSERT: One congressman said, "How can our daughters and sons spill their blood while the Iraqi parliament goes on vacation? The president responded, "The Vice President is over there to tell them, 'Do not go on vacation.'"
Developing...
You do not run a war on Polls. If that were always the case, I would have grown up in the Confederate States of America instread of the USA. You just have the unfortunate occassion of living among many liberal scum in the Northeast.
You are a sad excuse of a Rino. I’ve had things stuck on the bottom of my shoe with more guts than you.
How is telling the President that serious progress needs to be made by a certain time, (after 4 years), or we will re-evaluate things “treachery”? The GOP has stood by Bush for a long time without wavering. But let’s face it, Bush is an outgoing President with 28% approval according to Newsweek - (yes I know, polls MSM nonsense) - but nonetheless, the bottom line is things need to change in Iraq soon or you can say hello to President Clinton/Obama and a super-majority Dem Congress.
I agree that this is what will come next. But there are only two ways that this thing avoids a worst-endcase scenario:
1. Have a frickin' draft and get another 200,000 troops on the ground. (not happening)
2. Get help from Europe, other nations.
#2 is only going to happen if the entire Middle East falls into mortal peril. This may sound really twisted, but given that Congress will not provide the personnel necessary to win at this point, the situation has to get bad enough in the Middle East that it becomes a WORLD problem, and not just ours. Right now, the EU is getting a kick out of watching us get beat. If they were smart, they would see the same outcome that you and I agree is inevitable, and send forces NOW. But they're idiots. And they won't act until Israel is up for grabs, Saudi oil fields are ablaze, and Jordan falls to the caliphate.
At this point, the only way to win Iraq is to lose Iraq. Until the rest of the world understands what's at stake, we're the fall-guys. And unless Congress will do what it takes to win, there's no point in shedding any more blood.
I'm a patriot, CharlesWayneCT. I know why we're fighting this war. The fact is, looking at it with a cold eye, this thing is lost in its current iteration. IMHO, the only chance at a good outcome is if this war becomes bigger and forces Europe and our Congress to get off its ass and deliver the troops necessary to obliterate Al Qaeda, obliterate Syria, and obliterate whatever forces Iran wants to throw into the mix. Telling the president bluntly, "this is lost", may be the only way we can win.
Do you want to turn Iraq over to Al Qaeda, so they can topple the government, set up set up base of operations in Iraq and fund attacks against us and our allies with an endless supply of money from one of the world’s largest oil supply? I do not.
Great post. Thanks.
And from the same Site....
Call the Blue Dog Dems and remind them what we did to Joe Lieberman
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by John Aravosis (DC) · 5/10/2007 10:47:00 AM ET
Discuss this post here: Comments (2) · digg it · reddit · FARK ·· Link
Are these conservative Democrats going to sell out the American people and our troops today by giving George Bush a blank check to continue this disaster of a war indefinitely? Please give them a call and tell them "no more blank checks, stand up to George Bush and change the course in Iraq." The entire House will vote on the Iraq supplemental today. Tell these conservative Democrats that they'd better not vote to give George Bush a blank check - we're watching them.
And if they say that you're not from their district, which they will (if you're not), tell them that you weren't from Joe Lieberman's district when your money made him him lose his primary. Let them know that they'll be next. And by the way, I used to work in the Senate. Often it helps to be nice when you call, but sometimes it helps to be angry. This is one of those times.
And one more thing. This is not a list of members who are necessarily already doing the wrong thing. It's a list of members who we think need to hear from their supporters.Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121, then ask for the congressmember's office:
Mike Arcuri (NY-24)
Joe Baca (CA-43)
John Barrow (GA-12)
Melissa Bean (IL-08)
Marion Berry (AR-01)
Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Dan Boren (OK-02)
Leonard Boswell (IA-03)
Allen Boyd (FL-02), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration
Dennis Cardoza (CA-18)
Ben Chandler (KY-06)
Jim Cooper (TN-05)
Jim Costa (CA-20)
Robert E. "Bud" Cramer (AL-05)
Lincoln Davis (TN-04)
Joe Donnelly (IN-02)
Brad Ellsworth (IN-08)
Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20)
Jane Harman (CA-36)
Stephanie Herseth (SD), Blue Dog Whip
Baron Hill (IN-09)
Tim Holden (PA-17)
Steve Israel (NY-02)
Mike McIntyre (NC-07)
Tim Mahoney (FL-16)
Jim Marshall (GA-08)
Jim Matheson (UT-02)
Charlie Melancon (LA-03)
Mike Michaud (ME-02)
Dennis Moore (KS-03), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy
Patrick Murphy (PA-08)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Earl Pomeroy (ND)
Mike Ross (AR-04), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications
John Salazar (C0-03)
Loretta Sanchez (CA-47)
Adam Schiff (CA-29)
David Scott (GA-13)
Heath Shuler (NC-11)
John Tanner (TN-08)
Ellen Tauscher (CA-10)
Gene Taylor (MS-04)
Mike Thompson (CA-01)
Charlie Wilson (OH-06)
Labels: House of Representatives, Iraq
This is why the MSM is pushing cut and run advocates who are running for president.
These are the same republicans who were adamant Hitler was just a european problem.
No I do not, but Al Qaeda is not driving most of these attacks in Iraq - in fact, Sunni and Shiite factions are not only fighting each other and Kurds, but also Al Qaeda. They will continue to fight each other with or without us there. I am not advocating immediate pullout, but how is plunging resources, money, and troops into a situation that isn't improving keeping us strong?,
The voters need to take it to the RNC.
I couldn't disagree more. The President does what is right for the interests of the nation, not what is the most popular choice.
That is why I voted for him, and that is why I still support him in his efforts. Whether the nation is tired of it or not, withdrawing from IRaq is a horrible move for our future, just as leaving Saddam in power would have been.
I hate to see Osama Bin Laden be correct when he said the US is too fat and lazy to defend ourselves.
You: I hope it was positive for all involved.
It's a positive thing when Pubbie Congressrats tell Bush his word is no longer good...that they'll believe it when somebody other than the president says it. That he's a filthy liar.
Oh yeah, positive. For the Dems.
Wow, they have a long list of people in their party they are afraid of, don’t they? Put’s things in a little perspective.
That’s the problem with politicians.
What we need is ‘statesmen’ who have a long range vision for this country not on the issue ‘du jour’.
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Tribal leaders in the troubled province organize against al Qaeda
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In March, we noted the successful model of the Anbar Salvation Council will very likely be replicated elsewhere in regions where al Qaeda has established bases of operation. We singled out Diyala in particular, as al Qaeda's campaign of murder and intimidation was beginning to anger the tribes much as it did in Anbar province. Al Qaeda's establishment of its Islamic State of Iraq, with its capital in Baqubah made the province ripe for a major Coalition operation in the region. In early March, Al Sabaah reported the local sheikhs in Diyala were organizing against al-Qaeda and its Islamic State of Iraq, "which [is] spreading corruption in the province districts." Today, the speculation has become a reality, as "Arab tribesmen in Baqubah have said they will form a tribal alliance to cleanse the Diyala province of foreign fighters and those of the al-Qaeda terrorist network in Iraq."
"Tribesman Sheikh Wameed al-Jabouri told al-Hayat that a number of tribes had signed a cooperation agreement to undertake this mission and to bring the city back to how 'it used to be,'" notes DPA. "The agreement could be considered "a national charter" that proves their rejection of the actions of the terrorist groups, al-Jabouri said."
Shiite factions are no longer fighting Sunni factions in the numbers they were. They are mostly fighting Al Qaeda and the remaining Sunni insurgents working with them. Sunnis are fighting Sunnis. Look at Al Anbar province. 180 degree turn around. Things are happening and getting better since Petraeus took over. Our troops deserve are support that we believe they will stabilize Iraq. Iraq needs to resolve some issues politically and they will. Noew is no the time to waiver. Al Qaeda and democrats are counting on us to.
The President is elected by popular opinion, does that mean he should ignore it after he's in office?
Whether the nation is tired of it or not, withdrawing from IRaq is a horrible move for our future, just as leaving Saddam in power would have been.
Saddam was happy running his country and yes, he may have hated us but he also hated Iran. Saddam was a thorn in Irans side which is something we could benefit from right about now. We kicked Saddams butt and found no weapons that posed any threat to us
I hate to see Osama Bin Laden be correct when he said the US is too fat and lazy to defend ourselves.
Osama isn't stupid... he wants us to keep sending money and troops over there. They aren't afraid to die or blow themselves up... If there is a steady stream of American forces heading over for them to attack they will be happy. We will not win the WOT militarily. This is not a conventional war.
Amen. When you are creating more enemies than you are destroying, it's time to stop digging. We've had our civil wars, let them have at it. When they want to kill each other, let's get our troops out of the way.
Religious wars have been going on in the ME for thousands of years, we won't change that.
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