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Republican rebellion worsens against Iraq [Lamar Alexander & Judd Gregg]
FT ^ | July 8 2007

Posted on 07/08/2007 12:59:06 PM PDT by bnelson44

The Republican rebellion against the war in Iraq widened over the weekend as more of the party’s senators voiced dissent against President George W. Bush’s strategy.

Republican unity on Iraq has shattered in recent weeks, amid mounting pessimism about the ability of US forces to bring stability to the country.

Weakening Republican support for the war has left Mr Bush looking increasingly isolated as Congressional Democrats prepare for a fresh barrage of votes aimed at forcing a US withdrawal from Iraq.

Three Republican senators have joined the calls for a change of course in Iraq in recent days, adding to a steady trickle of defections.

“It should be clear to the president that there needs to be a new strategy,” Lamar Alexander, Republican senator for Tennessee, told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday.

Speaking to the same newspaper, Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire said efforts to quell the violence in Iraq by increasing US troop numbers “don’t seem to be making a lot of progress”.

In common with most Republicans, Mr Alexander and Mr Gregg stopped short of backing Democratic calls for legislation to force an immediate withdrawal. But Mr Gregg said it was vital to have “a clear blueprint” aimed at reducing troop numbers.

(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; US: New Hampshire; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: 110th; alexander; dhimmis; gregg; handwringers; iraq; rinos
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1 posted on 07/08/2007 12:59:07 PM PDT by bnelson44
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To: bnelson44

What alternative did he offer? And why should we announce any new plans to our enemies?


2 posted on 07/08/2007 1:01:50 PM PDT by SteveMcKing
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To: bnelson44

After Lugar, I knew more would follow. There will be more joining Lugar over the next two weeks too.


3 posted on 07/08/2007 1:02:37 PM PDT by George W. Bush (Rudi: tough on terror, scared of Iowa)
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To: bnelson44

The GOP continues its meltdown. Revolting.


4 posted on 07/08/2007 1:02:55 PM PDT by pissant (Duncan Hunter: Warrior, Statesman, Conservative)
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To: bnelson44

Guess someone better point out to the PC Media their is much more to the US Govt then the US Senate. The Cut and Run RINO Senators still leaves them about 12 votes short of over riding a Presidential veto.

Then there is the little problem of being 60 votes short in the US House.

More wishful thinking from the Politically Corrupt Media.


5 posted on 07/08/2007 1:03:54 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (Ignorance can be cured by education, stupidity is a terminal condition)
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To: bnelson44

I agree we need a new strategy. We need to stop pussyfooting around with Iran and hit them from the air with Shock and Awe. Stop Iran from sending in teams to kill and stir trouble. Stop Al Sadr by planting him wherever the body is found and Pull the troops back to the part of Iraq where the Kurds are to protect them and let the Iraqui’s deal with it themselves. Time to crap or get up off the pot.


6 posted on 07/08/2007 1:04:15 PM PDT by sgtbono2002 (http://www.imwithfred.com/index.aspx)
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To: George W. Bush
After Lugar, I knew more would follow. There will be more joining Lugar over the next two weeks

Wishful thinking from the Neo Isolationists. You will lose this vote too. Your are about 60 votes short in the House and 12 in the Senate.

7 posted on 07/08/2007 1:05:08 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (Ignorance can be cured by education, stupidity is a terminal condition)
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To: sgtbono2002
Ah Yes, Counter Insurgency doctrine from watch war movies. Just ignore all factual reality and scream the dogma louder to drown out all facts about Iraq.

New day, same old ignorance from the Dinocons.

8 posted on 07/08/2007 1:06:24 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (Ignorance can be cured by education, stupidity is a terminal condition)
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To: bnelson44

Yeah I am sure leaving will help. Bwahahahaha...These folks have one goal in 1400 years...take over the world for Allah. So it wont matter who is President. Or, what we do...they will keep coming at us till we militarily defeat them. Period!


9 posted on 07/08/2007 1:06:27 PM PDT by lexington minuteman 1775
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To: sgtbono2002
What we are doing now is old school counter-insurgency.

Old school counter-insurgency works, and is working in Iraq.

Old school counter-insurgency does not involve carpet bombing.

Petraeus is doing fine. Focus on fighting the RINOs and traitors.

10 posted on 07/08/2007 1:08:15 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback (Capitalize on victory--push the fence now!)
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To: MNJohnnie
We'll see. After more senate defections and/or a few votes, you'll be racing about drooling and gnashing your teeth over the perfidy of "the traitors". Then you'll progress to your Chicken Little phase.

We've seen it before.
11 posted on 07/08/2007 1:09:44 PM PDT by George W. Bush (Rudi: tough on terror, scared of Iowa)
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To: bnelson44

I should point out that both of these senators have already co-sponsored a bill that they are going to push next week:

S.1545 It is the same bill that Sen. Demenichi signed on to.

Sponsor: Sen Salazar, Ken

COSPONSORS: (date they signed on):

Sen Alexander, Lamar [TN] - 6/5/2007
Sen Bennett, Robert F. [UT] - 6/5/2007
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] - 6/5/2007
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 6/5/2007
Sen Domenici, Pete V. [NM] - 6/27/2007
Sen Gregg, Judd [NH] - 6/5/2007
Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] - 6/5/2007
Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] - 6/28/2007
Sen Pryor, Mark L. [AR] - 6/5/2007
Sen Sununu, John E. [NH] - 6/5/2007

Bill is here:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:s1545is.txt.pdf


12 posted on 07/08/2007 1:10:12 PM PDT by bnelson44 (http://www.appealforcourage.org)
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To: sgtbono2002

You may be right; but, I question the timing. Didn’t they agree to hold fire until a date certain when Patreus (sp) is to report?


13 posted on 07/08/2007 1:10:15 PM PDT by don-o (End Freepathons forever. Do the RIGHT thing. Become a monthly donor)
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To: bnelson44

The question we have to ask ourselves. Are we going to stand by and have our soldiers and our country drug down to defeat and leave Iraq knowing Al Qaeda and Iranian agents (not much difference between the two) are operating in the country and is receiving weapons from Iran. A person that can not see how this strategy is one that will lead to more horrors here at home must be a better optimist than I.

If Republicans and conservatives retreat now, we are taking responsibility for future attacks on our country. Anyone who thinks a perceived victory for Al Qaeda against the only Superpower in the world is a good thing is delusional. All of our enemies will be stronger and bolder. What we should be doing is taking the war to Iran. If the President has any self respect left for himself and any love for his country that is what he will do.

I fear that we are going to face another attack and it will tear this country apart at the seams. Let a nuke go off in one of our cities and the civil war will be in our streets not in the middle east before the response is done.


14 posted on 07/08/2007 1:10:33 PM PDT by Maelstorm (When ideas are considered equal regardless of content, then arriving at truth becomes an accident.)
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To: bnelson44

Domenici


15 posted on 07/08/2007 1:10:45 PM PDT by bnelson44 (http://www.appealforcourage.org)
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To: bnelson44

Pathetic.

The DemoncRats almost NEVER break ranks.

I can’t remember the last time they did.

For the Repuglicans, it’s a way of life.

Since NH has become a commie enclave, Judd Greg wants to align himself with the left.

What a moron.

Repuglicans NEVER get it.

The Left will NEVER vote for them, no matter HOW much to the Left they move.

By doing this, Gregg is alienating his base.

Unless a really, REALLY strong Republican arises to challenge Gregg, his seat in the Senate will go to the DemoncRats the next time it’s up for sale ... uh .. reelection.


16 posted on 07/08/2007 1:10:52 PM PDT by Westbrook (Having more children does not divide your love, it multiplies it!)
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To: MNJohnnie
Nevertheless, public and Congressional opinion is moving in the wrong direction. If it continues as it has been (which is likely, based on past history of such things) it won't be all that many more months before a veto would be overriden.

When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade. It's time to start thinking about how to make the best of the public's determination to get the US military out of Iraq. Although leaving is wrong at this point in time, it's not worth losing the next election over it. That would be a far worse disaster.

17 posted on 07/08/2007 1:11:22 PM PDT by sourcery (fRed Dawn: Wednesday, 5 November 2008!)
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To: MNJohnnie
We are where we are in Iraq. No roses for the USA. But what is the alternative to trying to defeat the facist. If we leave there will hundreds of thousands killed. An islamic state will have billions of dollars from oil revenues to foment their terror. The few stable countries in the mideast Jordan, (perhaps Turkey) will be destablilized. Israel will be at serious risk. Pakistan may well fall with a little help from Iran/Iraq. If that should happen, then they have 30 or so nukes.

Mr. Alexander....what do we do with these scenarios should they play out? I am bumfuzzled also. The damn Iraqis don't seem to be moving as quickly as we would like. I just do not reasonably see the alternative to our staying and killing muslims who are trying to destroy the west.

18 posted on 07/08/2007 1:11:27 PM PDT by Texas Songwriter
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To: bnelson44
Republicans need to realize that Iraq is hurting any chance of taking the White House again. U.S. troops are not going to stop the violence and instability that is taking place inside Iraq, especially if the U.S. keeps ignoring what Iran is doing to assist this.

People can put their hands over their ears, blame the media, and call anyone who disagrees with them a rino or "traitor", but that doesn't change the fact that it's time to declare our mission accomplished, and start pulling our troops out.

19 posted on 07/08/2007 1:11:33 PM PDT by deep
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To: Mr. Silverback

Oh Yeah its doing just great.


20 posted on 07/08/2007 1:11:39 PM PDT by sgtbono2002 (http://www.imwithfred.com/index.aspx)
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