Charging Ahead On Iraq

I should add that even the Establishment Democrats in Washington are speaking with one voice on Iraq. They may be coming at it from different angles, they may have their own motives, but they're getting the policy right. And they're not backing down from the constant threats by the White House.

Senator Dodd challenged his fellow Presidential nominees to support the Feingold-Reid proposal to end funding for the war at a date certain, as a next measure should the President veto the emergency supplemental.

"I am calling on all the candidates in this race to join me in clearly standing up to the president once and for all by stating their support for the Feingold-Reid legislation that sets a firm timetable to end this war by March 31st, 2008. After more than 3,200 lives lost, tens of thousands wounded and $400 billion spent, it is time to bring an end to a war that at every turn has failed to make America safer. The hour is late. It is time to begin putting our country on a more secure path."

Dodd wants to become prominent on the national scene with this measure, sure, but he's doing it by leading, and showing that he understands that the American people are on his side. Further, Rahm Emanuel has put out a long memo asking members of Congress to hold firm on Iraq. He goes after it in purely political terms, as one woud expect. But this is not where he was a few months ago. It's significant that Emanuel finally understands that he must get out in front of the public on this.

As we return from the district work period, the Congress continues to have an historic opportunity to change direction in Iraq, protect and provide for American troops, and pressure Iraqis to take responsibility for their own country.

We find ourselves in a strong position because the American people support our policy objectives and our plan for Iraq, especially as they measure up against the failures of the administration’s policies. As we continue through the process of sending an Iraq spending bill to the President for his approval, we need to go beyond the debate about the funding for the war, and remind the American people of the policies we are recommending -- benchmarks for the Iraqis, support for our troops through training and equipment, and a plan for a responsible and strategic redeployment of our troops. It is also important that we remind the country of the policy position of Congressional Republicans on Iraq – their rubberstamping of the President’s Iraq policies, and their refusal to conduct responsible oversight.

The military is being considerably broken through extended tours of duty, paying over a billion dollars to retain recruits, and the loss of future generals and top officers who are walking away from the force. If Establishment Democrats have to stop this by citing political polling, or by burnishing Presidential credentials, I don't have a problem with it. This has to end.