Democrats Miscalculate On Iraq

Captain's Quarters ^ | August 22, 2007 6:35 AM | Ed Morrissey

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Democrats figured that the August recess would give them plenty of opportunity to raise the heat on Republicans to force a withdrawal date from Iraq. They could return to their home districts, stoke some demonstrations, and return with new momentum after Labor Day to push for retreat. Unfortunately, events have intervened, and now Democrats have to regroup to avoid looking like defeatists while the military effort has started producing successes:

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The Democrats have been outmanuevered again on Iraq. Earlier this year, they took 108 days to come up with a funding formula that wouldn't get vetoed by the Bush administration, thinking that they could dictate terms to the White House. They found out, as the Republicans did in 1995, that Presidents are never irrelevant. He played "chicken" better than the Democrats, who swerved rather than allowing funds to run out on the troops, and gave Bush what he wanted in May.

It looks like September will bring more swerving. Even leading Democrats acknowledge that Petraeus has produced some stunning successes in Anbar and Diyala. Most people considered Anbar a lost cause, but Petraeus and his forces have freed the province of its terrorist oppressors and created a political movement of Iraqi unity called Anbar Awakening, which continues to spread. Barack Obama suggested yesterday that Baghdad could use another 30,000 troops.

Now that their predictions of military failure have have died, the Democrats want to focus on the lack of political reform as a reason to leave.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There is a book (now available in paperback ):

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Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left
(Hardcover)
by David Horowitz

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And reviews:

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Editorial Reviews

Rich Lowry, Editor National Review

David Horowitz is synonymous with pyrotechnics. A historian and polemicist of the first order, he is paid the ultimate compliment --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Davis Hanson, Author, Ripples of Battle

An original look at those who want us to fail in the Middle East, both at home and abroad. The --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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See all Editorial Reviews

Fascinating Analysis of Leftist Goals, August 13, 2006

Reviewer: N. Sincerity - See all my reviews

A former 1960s radical, Horowitz is well-acquainted with the Leftist mindset. In this book, he strives to explain the modern alliance between left wing progressivists and radical Islamofascists. He argues that this alliance is based on a common desire to destroy Western capitalism. Leftist sympathy with Islamofascist ideas makes no sense from an intellectual point of view, given that countries ruled by radical Islamists are among the most racist, sexist, theocratic states in the world today. However, Leftists have recognized that they can benefit politically from destructive terrorist attacks on the Western world. A West under attack can be made to turn on its leaders in fear and desperation (as they did in Spain after the Madrid train bombings). Only once people reject current government structures can the Left execute its anti-capitalist revolution and build a new reality that mirrors the Leftist view of utopia.

The complete and utter idealogical hypocrisy of the Islamofascist-Leftist alliance is distressing, but as Horowitz reminds us,

Leftists radicals truly believe the ends justify the means.

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[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Events are happening faster than the Democrats can move the Goal Posts....

Today we have this:

Iraq: Baathists 'disown al-Qaeda'(To open "Dialogue" With Iraq Government!)

[RC2]

I am amazed that we allow our Congressmen/women to go on vacation while our country is at war. These people need to be in Washington with their feet held to the fire until they do the peoples business. And they complain that the Iraqi government goes on vacation? Bunch of fools.

[RC2]

One thing the muslims don’t get yet. Unlike Spain, if they attack us, we can come back on them 100 times harder. Even though the Left doesn’t believe we have the will to do this..........don’t test us.

[tomnbeverly]

The Liberals find themselves in the unenviably position of having good news for the USA be bad news for them... and the GOP should give no quarter for none was granted them...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And from the left:

Sen. Step-In-It

Iraq: One of the loudest Iraq War critics, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, reports "tangible results" from the surge. Then he jeopardizes Iraq's future by calling for the prime minister's head.

[A CA Guy]

If the general public would bother to know what is really happening in politics, the Democrats would never see the power of a majority again for at least 5 decades.

The Democrats practice the Islamic tradition of lying and considering a lie told often enough as being the truth.

[bray]

The Surge is Working and Crooked Harry has Lost

Pray for W and Our Troops

[jalisco555]

I am amazed that we allow our Congressmen/women to go on vacation while our country is at war. These people need to be in Washington with their feet held to the fire until they do the peoples business. And they complain that the Iraqi government goes on vacation? Bunch of fools.

Actually the longer this particular group of fools is out of town the better. Do you really want Pelosi and Reid hard at work on the "people's business" seven days a week?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More from the left:

Obama: No Military Solution in Iraq

Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday the recent increase in American troops in Iraq may well have helped tamp down violence, but he insisted there is no military solution to the country's problems and U.S. forces should be redeployed soon.

[mrsmel]

Just like they’ll disregard the truth of the success of the surge and wish for defeat, in order to gain votes. They hate America, and I hate them.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And from the right:

[Fred]Thompson: U.S. must rebuild military

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The U.S. must rebuild its military to fight global terrorism because leaders "took a holiday" in the 1990s after the end of the Cold War, undeclared presidential candidate Fred Thompson told war veterans Tuesday.

"Some people in this country think if we can pull out of Iraq, our problems will be over," Thompson told the Veterans of Foreign Wars. "You and I know better than that."

[A CA Guy]

They are empty suits who are willing to get lots of troops killed or to see the USA fail if it means they get to keep or get more power for themselves.

They are the most selfish people in America.
They are also good for nothing low lifes.

[RC2]

Good point....but.....if they can’t do our business....recall them. I do believe, however, the more they are in Washington, the more they make fools out of themselves. Catch 22 I guess.

[drpix]

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The MSM doesn’t want that to happen....

[appeal2]

The dims should have taken a page from the republicans face off with Clinton and the republicans should have learned from congress when they went up against Teddy Roosevelt. He had enough money to send the naval fleet to the Phillipines as a show of force but he didn’t have enough to bring it home. So what did he do? He sent the fleet anyway and then dared the congress creatures to not fund the fleet’s return. Guess what happened? No congress will be responsible for leaving a naval fleet or an army unfunded and in harm’s way.

[A CA Guy]

Fred is an adult willing to speak about issues that are real issues and not easy to talk about.
His views on those issues appear to be conservative and that makes him a very good candidate for President.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Outstanding Graphic....