Posted on 12/02/2005 12:13:46 PM PST by ncountylee
As any professional debater will tell you, framing the terms of the debate is more than half the battle. We saw a good example of that in the Republican reaction to Democratic Rep. John Murtha's call for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.
If the choice is between cutting and running, which connotes cowardice and weakness, or staying the course, which connotes strength and manliness, then of course we will stay the course. Trouble is, that is not the choice offered by Murtha's suggested resolution. Murtha, a battle-scarred ex-Marine, argues that the American military has done all it can be expected to do. It defeated Saddam's army and toppled his government. By hanging around as an occupation force, it has now become a target, not only for jihadists but for nationalistic Iraqis. A recent poll of Iraqis showed that 80 percent want us out, and about 45 percent believe it is acceptable to attack and kill Americans.
Murtha advocates an orderly redeployment, which he estimates could be done safely in about six months. He advocates keeping a Marine force close enough that it could come back in if the new Iraqi government needs its help. In other words, Murtha's proposal is a new strategy for the situation. He wants hearings and an intelligent debate.
The political stunt the Republicans pulled was designed to make sure there would be no debate. They voted to suspend the rules and force a vote after one hour's debate on a cut-and-run resolution, yes or no. The idea was to sandbag the Democrats, but they voted virtually unanimously to stay. And they were right to condemn the tactic as a cheap political trick.
(Excerpt) Read more at sanfordherald.com ...
Charley needs to start drinking again...he made more sense.
What I would like to see somone ask Murtha is "What countries bordering Iraq have agreed to allow us to stage our military on their borders for quick reentry into Iraq if needed?"
I can only imagine the evasion he would reply with.
What, did Charly lose his hit talk program that ran at 3:00 A.M. on the Toothbrushing channel?
Can we have another house vote NOW!
My mistake-I thought the Author was Charly Rose--my bad.
Yes, he has changed. In the mid-90s, I used to look forward to Charlie's columns. He "changed". I got to witness a number of once-stellar commentators "change". And always after they came into affiliation with a special interest group. Hmm.
Good to see he was able to stop servicing Justin Raimondo just long enough to write another of his awful columns.
The new governments in Iran and Syria....ohhh, I forget - loose lips sink ships. Forget I said anything.
Well, this is typical liberal pablum. Make a statement and hope everyone assumes it to be true. Charlie lied in this title. The correct phraseology is:
Iraq is not supposed to be a political game
However, the dims have turned it into one.
It's funny that these pointy heads can't figure out that a fake time table is cut and run or informing the ENEMY of your plans ahead of time.
Either way it's a crock!
They have been outted as cowards!
And this will resonate come the 06 elects, that "IS" what they are trying to cloud in shades of GREY now.
And they were right to condemn the tactic as a cheap political trick.
And I condemn this article as being cheap political tripe.
"I don't like paying for the same real estate twice." - George S. Patton
No mention of Reid's closed session though.
I think Charlie Reese and Maureen Dowd should start dating.....
If Iraq is not a political game, the Democrats should stop playing like it is one.
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