Connecticut Conservative

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Connecticut Politicians on Rise in Troops

Sen. Joe Lieberman is one of the only Democrats, if not the only Democrat, who has been willing to support President Bush's call for more troops in Iraq. The leadership of the Democratic Party is against the increase in troops. Harry Reid is now urging senators to reject any plans, having once said that he would "go along with it." Sen. Lieberman explained his position:

This moment cries out for the kind of courageous leadership that does what it can to succeed and win in Iraq, not what will command the largest number of political supporters in Congress. The battlefield is in Baghdad and Anbar, not in Washington, and we need to support the president as he goes forward, hopefully, with exactly that kind of new initiative in Iraq.
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The worst thing that could happen here is that there be some kind of attempt to resolve this pivotal moment where they compromise among factions in American politics and in the American Congress, rather than doing what is right and has the highest prospect of succeeding in Iraq.

Rep. Shays, on the other hand, has expressed skepticism about the plan. Others, including former military generals like Colin Powell, have also expressed skepticism. At this point, I believe Lieberman is going out on a limb supporting the President before the plans have even been released. With people like Powell unsure about the potential success for such a decision, I think Shays' opinion is far more rational.

5 Comments:

There are no good alternatives and a "surge" will only come from exetended and accelerated deployments because the increase in the military ranks - Army and Marines - that both sides support BTWwill take years to accomplish. that said, surge or not, Petraeus will try a different strategy and I hope to hell "King david" as the kurds referrred to him can make it work - operating out of smaller local bases instead of regional large camps.

By bluecoat, at 1:59 PM
Of course Shays and Powell's skepticism is well-founded. Any rational person knows this is a fight that cannot be won militarily. A so-called troop surge will do nothing but lead to the deaths of more American troops and cost U.S. taxpayers $250,000,000 A DAY. Liebermen, as usual, is wrong and is as thick and muleheaded as Bush junior is on this quagmire. Typically whiny Joe tries to make himself sound virtuous while supporting a flawed policy. Bush gambled and he blew it.

By Anonymous, at 1:32 AM
I say we demand Joe go to Iraq for 3 months, right away. He should travel Iraq corner to corner on the ground with our troupes daily to see first hand what is really going on. Only then should he come back and tell us how he really feels.

If he hasn't changed his tune after that, then we should tell him to send his own kids to do the job he wants everyone else's kid to do before we send any more of our kids.

My bet he somehow has an epiphany, and finds some way to explain how he was never for this war all along, and he is always just misunderstood. Which BTY seems something easy for him to let us become each times he speaks out of both sides of his mouth.

By Anonymous, at 3:39 PM
The number of soldiers is less important than the mission and the rules of engagement.

We can win (and in many ways have already won) militarily. What we haven't don yet is win politically.

We will if we take the gloves off and kill or capture terrorists - whether Sunni or Shia - and not allow the Mailiki governemnt to release the Shia terrorists.

By Gregg, at 1:38 PM
I love Joe, he is an awesome conservative (he will be coming out soon).

I think him and John McCain will make a good 2008 ticket. They won't be as effective as Bush & Cheney, but at least a lot better than what the liberals have planned.

By Anonymous, at 3:34 PM