I put Middle Earth Journal in hiatus in May of 2008 and moved to Newshoggers.
I temporarily reopened Middle Earth Journal when Newshoggers shut it's doors but I was invited to Participate at The Moderate Voice so Middle Earth Journal is once again in hiatus.

Friday, July 06, 2007

But will they walk the walk?

There are only to opinions on Iraq that aren't based on mind boggling delusion.

1. It was a really bad idea from the beginning.
2. It was a good idea but the incompetence of the Bush administration resulted in a catastrophic debacle that can't be reversed.

In both cases we can only conclude that we must withdraw from Iraq as quickly as possible.
The New York Times reports that:
G.O.P. Support for Iraq Policy Erodes Further
WASHINGTON, July 5 — Support among Republicans for President Bush’s Iraq policy eroded further on Thursday as another senior lawmaker, Senator Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico, broke with the White House just as Congressional Democrats prepared to renew their challenge to the war.

“We cannot continue asking our troops to sacrifice indefinitely while the Iraqi government is not making measurable progress,” said Mr. Domenici, a six-term senator who has been a steadfast supporter of the president.
So Mr Domenici joins the growing list if Republican lawmakers who are talking the talk. Oregon's own Senator Gordon Smith started talking the talk after the Republican defeat in November of 2006 was one of the first on the list. Like the other lawmakers on the Republican list Mr Smith has failed to walk the walk, voting with George W. Bush at every opportunity. So as the number of Republican dissenters continues to grow what will they do?
Thus Mr. Domenici joined a growing number of Republican voices in opposition to the war just as Senate Democratic leaders are readying plans to put the political and policy focus back on Iraq next week.

The Democrats intend to use a Pentagon policy measure to force votes on proposals limiting spending on the conflict and setting a timetable for withdrawing most troops by next year — an idea Mr. Bush has already vetoed.

Mr. Domenici made it clear Thursday that he did not support such measures either, saying, “I’m not calling for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq or a reduction in funding for our troops, but I am calling for a new strategy that will move our troops out of combat operations and on the path to continuing home.”

Still, within hours after Mr. Domenici spoke to reporters in a conference call, Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat and majority leader, called on him to join Democrats and like-minded Republicans to bring the war to a close.

“Beginning with the defense authorization bill next week, Republicans will have the opportunity to not just say the right things on Iraq, but vote the right way, too,” Mr. Reid said, “so that we can bring the responsible end to this war that the American people demand and deserve.”
So Mr Domenici and you too Mr Smith, talking the talk won't cut it - you need to walk the walk as well. You will have the opportunity very soon and we will all be watching. The time for listening is over.

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