Thursday, July 05, 2007

Republicans for changing course in Iraq, but not really

Fron the AP:

Sen. Pete Domenici on Thursday withdrew his support of President Bush's Iraq war policy and embraced a proposal to bring home most troops by March.

The longtime New Mexico senator is the latest of several Republican stalwarts who have abandoned Bush on Iraq in the past 10 days. They have urged a change sooner rather than later and further isolated the GOP president in his attempt to defend the unpopular war.

Last week, Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and George Voinovich, R-Ohio, said the U.S. should significantly reduce its military presence in Iraq while bolstering diplomatic efforts. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., this month is expected to propose a new approach.
Sounds great. If only it were true...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Thursday it was time Republicans backed up their words with action and voted to bring troops home. The Senate will vote this month on several anti-war proposals, including cutting off money for combat and ordering troop withdrawals in four months.

Domenici and other Republicans are expected to oppose such proposals, while Democrats say the Iraq Study Group bill does not go far enough.
Yup, these Republicans may admit the "surge" isn't working (oh really?!), but so far they are just supporting a pathetic non-binding bill that says Bush should follow the Iraq Study Group's recommendations. This, of course, will achieve nothing in the way of change in Iraq. Anything less than voting to require our troops be redeployed from Iraq is no significant change in position at all.

These Republicans are simply trying to look like they are breaking with Bush, but in fact, still will do nothing to force his hand. Don't believe for a second Democrats will let them get away it, or the American people.

1 comment:

Alexander Wolfe said...

Alas, they desire to have their cake and eat it too. They want to appear to be supporting some change in Iraq, but they don't actually want to support any change in Iraq. If they think that's going to be enough to fool the voters come November 2008, they're badly mistaken. I think they'll learn, but slowly...and more soldiers will die fighting in the surge.