Home > Thinking Right > Archives > 2007 > January > 18
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Is productive Iraq debate over?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The war in Iraq is nearing abortion as a topic of conversation that generates heat, but changes no minds. Today’s news storiy, the front-page headline of which is “Senate anti-war resolution lures GOP support” reflects the beginning of the new Congressional majority’s Chinese water torture directed toward the next presidential election. Democrats are willing to see this country defeated if it produces two results: One is to send the Bush legacy, and his doctrine of preemptive strikes, to the ash heap of history. The other is to put a Democrat in the White House without obligating the party to or its candidates to have a workable plan, or any plan, on either Iraq or the larger war.
Today’s story is about a “bipartisan” group of senators, including Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), a presidential candidate himself, who join with Democrats supporting a nonbinding resolution drawn up by Joe Biden (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The resolution declares opposition to the troop “surge,” calling instead for diplomacy, international cooperation and a transfer of responsibilities to the Iraqi army. Fat chance on the first two, both of which amount to plans without plans, while the transfer of responsibilities is precisely what Bush is pursuing. Buckle down for two more years of this.
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, interviewed on Fox Wednesday, compared Bush to President Lincoln. “Most people don’t realize that this war is not just in Iraq, but also in Iran. The commander in chief of the United States, in Lincolnesque fashion, must look at information that the American public does not have and make decisions to protect this nation.” The hounds will nip at his heels because the agenda of the opposition is now something other than success in Iraq. Sometimes, though, a president can be unpopular and right. Lincoln was. Bush is.
Services »
