Posted on 12/09/2006 3:35:26 AM PST by anglian
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, who voted in favor of the Iraq war and has supported it ever since, now says the current U.S. war effort is "absurd" and "may even be criminal."
In a major speech on the Senate floor, the Oregon senator called for changes in U.S. policy that could include rapid pullouts of U.S. troops from Iraq. He said he would have never voted for the conflict if he had known the intelligence that President Bush gave the American people was inaccurate.
Citing the hundreds of billions of dollars spent and the nearly 3,000 American deaths, Smith said: "I for one am at the end of my rope when it comes to supporting a policy that has our soldiers patrolling the same streets in the same way, being blown up by the same bombs day after day. That is absurd. It may even be criminal. I cannot support that anymore."
Smith added: "So either we clear and hold and build, or let's go home."
A spokesman said Friday that Smith did not mean to call the war criminal in a legal sense, but in the sense of it being ridiculous or absurd.
In his speech, delivered Thursday night in an impassioned voice, Smith said there are no good options in Iraq, as the Iraq Study Group noted in its report this week.
Smith, who is up for re-election in 2008, said he was "at a crossroads" on the war, adding: "I want my constituents to know what is in my heart, what has guided my votes."
He said the U.S. military's "tactics have failed," adding that he "cannot support that anymore. ... We have paid a price in blood and treasure that is beyond calculation" for a war waged based on faulty intelligence.
Smith added that he is "tired of paying the price of 10 or more of our troops dying a day. So let's cut and run or cut and walk, but let us fight the war on terror more intelligently than we have, because we have fought this war in a very lamentable way."
While expressing grave doubts about the Iraq war, Smith said he does not believe the United States can retreat from the larger war on terror.
"Iraq is a battlefield in that larger war. But I do believe we need a presence there on the near horizon at least that allows us to provide intelligence, interdiction, logistics — but mostly a presence to say to the murderers that come across the border: 'We are here, and we will deal with you.'"
But Smith added: "We have no business being a policeman in someone else's civil war."
A potential rival of Smith's in the 2008 election shrugged his shoulders Friday when pressed for reaction to the speech.
"Better late than never," said Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon after speaking to the City Club of Portland.
Blumenauer, who opposed the war, has said he will make a decision next year on a possible Senate bid. He said he was less concerned with taking Smith to task than in a "broader context" of seeing the Congress oversee conduct of the war and in holding Republican senators who would stand for election in 2008 accountable for their decisions on it.
I agree with the sentiment, but don't like the reality. "get[ting] rid" of RINOs sounds nice, but the Dems are now in power. Should we desire even LESS power?
Sen. Smith will be on ABC's "This Week" this morning.
How is it criminal if he and a vast majority of dims voted for it? Why didn't he put forth legislation to stop funding the effort if he thought it criminal? The same question goes to ALL dims that voted for war. Criminal... it's criminal how yellow the spines of some Americans have grown. I am ashamed my country has such traitors among it's politicians... much less among the population.
No, he is full of Bull just like 99% of those that oppose VICTORY.
LLS
This POS is cut from the same cloth as those Republicans who joined the Dhimmicrats to cut off funding to S. Vietnam in 1974. There are more like him who have yet to speak.
Oregon will never yield up a Conservative. If Smith walks like a Democrat, talks like a Democrat and votes like a Democrat I don't see any reason there should be an R attached to his name.
This guy has no convictions and is only a republican when it suits him!I've had a belly full of Bush bashing when its everyone else that's wrong.This guy is willing to sell out anyone to get votes for his next election.To have someone like this,you may as well have a democrat.I hope he is defeated in the next election because he does'nt toe the line.You either agree and vote in lockstep or get out!
I'd question your use of the word "traitor" just as much as I'd question Smith's use of the phrase "may even be criminal." I'm sure Stephanapolus will ask him.
Traitors all!
LLS
" If Smith walks like a Democrat, talks like a Democrat and votes like a Democrat I don't see any reason there should be an R attached to his name."
Amen!
LLS
I'll use the word because it fits. Sorry if it offended you.
LLS
Right on!!!!
That's why I say that the war ended over 3 years ago when 'mission accomplished' was declared. From then on our troops were not fighting a war but policing a peace.
The day after those contractors were burned and mutilated, that bridge's name should have been changed to "The Bridge to Nowhere".
Good points, but it is awfully hard to have a majority then.
Clarification- I was speaking in general terms. What this guy said was stupid and he better change his tune. What I meant was a conservative in OR is different from one in AL. Same with liberals.
I don't feel that I used it freely... I feel it strongly and speak what I think. If it walks like a duck.
I am fed up with pols that vote one way and talk another. I am also sick of pols that side with defeat and frame it as deep thinking. I grow ill reading Rinos blame everyone but themselves and repeat the LIE that Bush mislead with intel. That dog won't hunt! I am weary of Rinos that bark like pelosi.
LLS
A prime example of why we lost the election. PUB pols are their own worst enemy. Has this Sen. been to the war zone? has he talked to soldiers on the front line? The election was ours to lose and we blew it because of spineless politicians. Hopefully a true leader with a spine and guts will emerge from the rubble.
Here's a link to his complete speech:
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002104.php
Not a good place to go on a full stomach :)
I really don't think that would be wise. Our politicians plan on selling them out as well, probably first, hoping the alligator will eat them last.
What's new about self-serving moron RINOs?
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