Posted on 06/14/2006 7:24:46 AM PDT by IrishMike
US President George W. Bush's triumphant return from his unannounced visit in Iraq found opposition Democrats more divided than ever on US policy in the wartorn country, and how best to capitalize on administration missteps there.
Republicans basked in the afterglow of the president's dramatic lightning visit Tuesday to meet with Iraq's new Prime Minister Nuri Maliki -- an event likely to figure prominently in a daylong debate Thursday in the House of Representatives on Iraq and the US "war on terror."
Bush's trip Tuesday followed last week's successes in Iraq, with the formation of the country's new unity government and the killing of Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
But Democrats -- who have disagreed about the war since the invasion more than three years ago -- continued to be riven by internal dissent, particularly on the critical question of an exit strategy from Iraq.
One of the party's most prominent figures, Senator John Kerry, is expected to introduce a resolution this week calling for a pullout of American forces by the end of the year.
"No matter how brave our soldiers are, no matter how valiant, no matter what their caring ... our soldiers cannot bring democracy to Iraq at the barrel of a gun," Kerry said Tuesday at a gathering of progressive Democrats.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
But at the same forum, another top Senate Democrat, Hillary Clinton, insisted that it would not be a "smart strategy" to create a timeline to leave Iraq.
Both Kerry and Clinton are also leading presidential contenders in 2008, an election in which Iraq is due to figure prominently.
The divisions over Iraq also come with Democrats fighting to reclaim the House and Senate from Republicans in midterm elections in November.
Kerry, whom Bush defeated in the 2004 presidential election, said at Tuesday's rally that the president's presence in Iraq did not change his view that the US military venture there is counter-productive.
The Massachusetts Democrat derided the president's "quick, and now not-so-secret trip to Iraq," saying the military role there increasingly resembles the US military debacle in Vietnam.
"Let me taste your tears, Rats. Mmmm they are so yummy and sweet."
"Kerry... derided the president's "quick, and now not-so-secret trip to Iraq," saying the military role there increasingly resembles the US military debacle in Vietnam."
You really wonder if Kerry actually ever was in Vietnam when you read this stuff. He obviously wasn't there long enough. Or maybe it's just that he hasn't spent much time in Iraq.
............You really wonder if Kerry actually ever was in Vietnam when you read this stuff. He obviously wasn't there long enough. Or maybe it's just that he hasn't spent much time in Iraq..............
From the a$shole who spent Christmas in Cambodia ????
Weren't the Dems supposed to be "more united than ever before" under the leadership of Howard "Yeeeehaaaw" Dean?
You raise a good point. Some congress critters have made eleven trips to Iraq, do any FREEPERS know how many trips Kerry has physically made to Iraq?
Better call the Poison Control Center first for possible antidotes!
But Kerry is all too happy to allow terrorists to bring oppression at end of an IED! Man that guy is sick.
Also from the article, the She ClinToon.....
Clinton on Tuesday made a plea for party unity, urging Democrats to coalesce around their opposition to the Bush administration, rather than being fractured over Iraq and other internal party disagreements.
Kerry was in Vietnam for about 3 months right? 90 days? How does that make him an expert on the Vietnam War?
What a tool.
More than ever before, the lib reaction to this trip (calling it a "stunt," etc.) shows me how much they are, in Rush's apt phrase, INVESTED IN DEFEAT.
They want us to lose. No two ways about it.
The big war hero . . . of the North Vietnamese.
America's not falling for it this time.
With the Left, the US must fail in Iraq so they can use the war against the Republicans, the Iraqi people and the Middle East be damned.
Democrats in disarray.....period.
This is a perfect example of a media bias swing. Within a week, the press has gone from been apocalyptic regarding the impending doom of the GOP to the GOP is on a come back and the Rats are in deep trouble and can't get traction.
Anybody got a webcam on Howard Dean's head so we can watch it explode?
" Within a week, the press has gone from been apocalyptic regarding the impending doom of the GOP to the GOP is on a come back and the Rats are in deep trouble and can't get traction."
The RATS always were in deep trouble, the biggest problem for them is that they are getting better at getting their message out.
The more that people hear their message, the worse it get for them.
Bush is not "basking" in anything. He was simply doing his job as CIC as he sees it. Part of that job is to express his, and symbolically the American people's, gratitude for the service of our armed forces.
Bingo. It's all about political power to them. THey want the power so that they can oppress the rest of us out of their perceived moral superiority.
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