If the Democrats push too hard on the issue of Iraq, Joe Lieberman quite possibly will officially announce a change and his entrance to the republican party, handing the senate back to the Republicans with a 50/50 split and Vice President Dick Cheney being the tie breaker.
Jolting Joe's reaction to the speech the President of the United States of America gave last night is nothing short of wonderful. Via The Corner.
Lieberman Applauds President for Pursuing
New Course in Iraq
Rejects ‘Fatalism of Failure’
WASHINGTON – Senator Joe Lieberman (I/D-CT) today made the following statement in response to President Bush’s address on Iraq:
“I applaud the President for rejecting the fatalism of failure and pursuing a new course to achieve success in Iraq. There is no more difficult decision that a President can make than to send our nation’s bravest soldiers and patriots into harm’s way. Yet, no objective is more worthy in defending America’s vital national security interests than aiding a struggling democracy and supporting brave moderates who are in a life and death struggle against totalitarian extremists supported by Al Qaeda and Iran.
Our troops have sacrificed much and now more will be asked of them to defend our nation. They fight in a just, noble and moral cause against the forces of terrorism, and their sacrifices will make America and the world more secure. I want our troops to return home as soon as possible – after we allow, enable and support them in accomplishing their mission in Iraq in finishing this fight.
I know there are deep differences of opinion about what the President has proposed tonight. In the coming days and weeks, we should undertake respectful debate and deliberation over this new plan. But, let us also remember that excessive partisan division and rancor at home only weakens our will to prevail in this war. I am particularly pleased that the President has taken the important and necessary step of creating a bi-partisan Consultative Group consisting of representatives and leaders of the Executive and Legislative branches to address issues related to the war against global terrorism.
At the moment, we and our Iraqi allies are not winning in Iraq and the American people are understandably frustrated by the miscalculations, the lack of progress, and the daily scenes of violence and casualties. But, make no mistake - defeat in Iraq would result in a moral and strategic setback in our global struggle against Islamist extremists who seek to strike our interests and our homeland.
Success is attainable in Iraq, and tonight the President has offered a comprehensive program to chart a new course in both winning the military struggle to establish order and in achieving the political and economic objectives to build a more promising future for Iraqis. However, no progress is possible unless we restore order, particularly in Baghdad.
Tonight, the President did not take the easy path, but he took the correct and courageous course. We are engaged in a world-wide struggle against Islamist extremism, and Iraq is now the central front. It is a dangerous illusion to believe that we can depart Iraq and the inevitable killing fields and terrorist violence will not follow us in retreat - even to our own shores. That is why it is right and imperative that we recommit ourselves to success in Iraq. Weakness only emboldens our enemy, but united resolution will make our nation safer for generations to come.”
Lieberman will not change his mind, he will not walk in lockstep with the Democratic party and has just made it clear he considers the Democrats party line to be "Fatalism of Failure".
Harsh but true.
As I mentioned in my previous post "The President Has Spoken", Joe Lieberman is not the only Democrat breaking with the ranks.
Jim Marshall, Democrat from Georgia has also come out strong in favor of the President's new strategies for Iraq: Via MSNBC.
WASHINGTON - President Bush and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both need Jim Marshall.
He’s a House Democrat who represents the kind of Republican-leaning district in the South — in Macon, Ga., and its environs — that Pelosi must keep in order to hold onto her majority in the House.
And Bush needs the support of Marshall and Democrats like him to give his Iraq policy a chance of success.
Read the whole thing, but the last paragraph has put the Democrats on the hot seat:
Despite all the disappointments and blunders, Marshall said Monday he thinks that “the vast majority of members of Congress agree that it is in our national interest to be successful” in Iraq.
Now Congress either has to face the question that they have been moving heaven and earth to avoid..... are our national interests above their partisan, political interests?
The President has also issued the same challenge to the Democrats in congress:
In the days ahead, my national security team will fully brief Congress on our new strategy. If Members have improvements that can be made, we will make them. If circumstances change, we will adjust. Honorable people have different views, and they will voice their criticisms. It is fair to hold our views up to scrutiny. And all involved have a responsibility to explain how the path they propose would be more likely to succeed.
A quick message to the Democrats like Pelosi, Murtha, Kerry, Clinton, Reid and company..... EXPLAIN to us how YOUR ideas will lead to success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are listening.
I cannot hear you, speak up. Nothing to say? No ideas for success? Come on..... I know you can do better than that. Talk to us, we are waiting.
John McCain weighs in with this:
"I thought it was an excellent speech,” said Senator John McCain, (R) Arizona. “The president acknowledged the strategy failed. It's a new strategy, and I emphasize strategy; because before we would clear and leave and the insurgents would return and take over the neighborhoods. Now this is the counter insurgency strategy of clear, hold and build so the economic and political process can move forward."
Looking at the whole overall picture of what has happened over the last couple of weeks and how the keys to this new strategy were coming together as he was speaking, I see a few interesting things.
The President has a two hour conversation with al-Maliki and following that, al-Maliki makes his own statement about the militias in Iraq, followed with a "blunt choice" for the Mahdi Army, that they will give up their arms or face American onslaught, we have our buildup with carriers in the Persian Gulf, (Hello Iran!!!!!), rules of engagement for our troops have been modified, allowing them to do their jobs without hindrance, our first addition of troops arriving in Iraq as the speech was beginning, focusing on security as well as multiple other strategic changes in our handling of Iraq to date. To top it all off, let us not forget the raid on the Iranian consulate just hours after the speech. (Rick Moran is extremely jubilant about the raid)
All in all, the president did not just announce a new way forward, he immediately started implementing it. He took action and is determined to succeed. He was truthful, honest and very, very blunt but it all needed to be said and done.
Another reaction that I found is from Kathleen Lewis, who has a son in Iraq on his THIRD tour in Iraq:
Lots of Valley folks will be listening closely to what the president has to say Wednesday night, especially our military families.
It was five years ago, just hours after 9/11 happened, that Kathleen Lewis found out her son joined the Army.
He's decided to make protecting our country his career.
So, understandably, Lewis has a vested interest in what President Bush outlines in his speech.
"I pray for him every day that he's safe," she said.
Lewis worries non-stop about her son. Army Sgt. Christian Lewis may be 30 years old, but he's Kathleen's baby.
He's now serving his third tour in Iraq and is in danger every day on the Quick Reaction Force Unit.
"He's seen some very bad things," Lewis said. "He wants to go back because he knows he doesn't want that on American soil."
Lewis will be glued to the tube Wednesday, listening to Bush outline his vision for Iraq. She agrees with his plan to send over more troops.
"I really think, and have thought, we need added troops," she said. "Someone needs to be out there to watch my son's back and so he can watch other's backs."
While Lewis says there are a lot of things that have happened in the war that she doesn't agree with, she thinks America needs a stronger presence to teach Iraqis how to run their own country and make their armed forces stronger.
"I don't care how many politicians or how many other people say we need to get out," she said. "The fact is we are at war."
Lewis says she believes this even if that means her son could be fighting that war for years to come.
"It's the path he's chosen in life and I've got to respect that," she said. "I'm extremely proud of him."
She says it all, I need to add nothing else. Bless her and her son.
Back to Lieberman and this is only my personal opinion, but as I see it, he is already labeling the Democrats as the party with Fatalism of Failure, in his words, and since the troops are already being mobilized and will be IN Iraq by the time any resolution makes it through the house, and heads to the Senate, any defunding will then be endangering the troops IN Iraq and will further alienate Democrats such as Lieberman and Marshall from the party as well as the majority of military families and our soldiers in Iraq.
We are at war and the idea of war is to win, achieve the goal of success....not to give in to defeat.
The party of Fatalism of Failure.... perfect new label and we can thank Joe Lieberman for the brilliantly phrased truth about his "former" party.
Jules Crittenden has two must read pieces today, one called "Leadership" and the other "The Correct Degree of Aggression". I suggest everyone read them both.
[UPDATE] I am using this post for this weekends open trackbacks.
Trackposted to Perri Nelson's Website, The Random Yak, Adam's Blog, Right Truth, Big Dog's Weblog, basil's blog, The Amboy Times, Phastidio.net, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, Rightwing Guy, The HILL Chronicles, third world county, Faultline USA, Woman Honor Thyself, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, stikNstein... has no mercy, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
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