Democrats like Iraq commission's report

[ProSense]

Democrats like Iraq commission's report

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 44 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Democrats in Congress, encouraged that a special commission will recommend a major reduction of U.S. troops in Iraq, say its report next week will serve as a jumping-off point for pressing their case that a withdrawal should begin in 2007.

Plans beyond that are elusive among members of the majority-in-waiting. Democrats are divided among themselves — and with President Bush — about how many troops to withdraw, when, and where to reassign them.

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"Sounds to me like they're going in the right direction," Sen. Christopher Dodd (news, bio, voting record), D-Conn., said of the commission.

Sen. Carl Levin (news, bio, voting record), D-Mich., said he was encouraged by the sense that the group would recommend a troop redeployment.

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Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said, "I hope that in the coming weeks the White House will engage in good-faith discussions about how to proceed that will seriously consider the ideas put forward by the study group, as well as other proposals."

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Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, who has argued that Iraq should be split into republics, will become chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in January. He said he was concerned that the report "may miss the most important point," a political agreement about the structure of Iraq's government.

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Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., said he was troubled by reports that the group would not recommend a timeline for redeploying U.S. troops. "Not including a flexible timetable ... would be a mistake that weakens both our efforts to help Iraqis reach a political solution in Iraq and our national security," he said.

more...

Nothing has changed!

[ProSense]

1. Pig meets lipstick! n/t

[jgraz]

2. Just curious: what would you have liked them to say?

ETA: To me it sounds like they're being diplomatic while not letting go of their presumed push for withdrawal/redeployment.

[ProSense]

3. I know the headline states that, but

are all the Democrats quoted pleased with the report?

[jgraz]

8. Ahhh -- little slow on the uptake

You should send that to FAIR.

[whoneedstickets]

4. This is VERY helpful..

My biggest concern was the Bush would be able to maintain the status-quo position, resist calls for withdrawal, and maintain the troops there UNTIL the Democrats cut funding (ala Vietnam). Then when Iraq dissolved into sectarian violence and warlordism the repukes could blame the democrats for the humanitarian suffering and for 'abandoning Iraq'.

This 'non-partisan' commission gives us some leverage to push for an end to the madness.

[CoffeeCat]

5. Is the Iraq Study Group for/against Junior?

I'm wondering which scenario is more accurate:

A. Bush Sr gets tired of his son's failures. He tells Junior that daddy's heavyweight friends
are forming a group that will release a plan for staggered withdrawal. Daddy tells Junior
that he has no choice but to go along--or else the group--and its elite military and political
members will shine the spotlight of failure on Junior and his war.

-or-

B.) The Iraq War Group was formed to control dissent of the war and stop Junior's polls
from eroding into single digits. Daddy didn't like people bad-mouthing his
son, so he galvanized his friends and is using their political and military clout. The Iraqi
War Group members are knowledgeable and prestigious on all matters political and military.
They'll back Junior's policies, in order to make Junior look like less of an abysmal failure.
It's a big crutch--comprised of Daddy's friends--that will keep Junior propped up and backed
up by well-known, affluent movers and shakers.

Is the Iraqi Group more A or B?...Or possibly some other option (C?).

[ProSense]

6. The report is due next week, but he's already rejected them. My guess

is he'll accept them at some point:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2992953&mesg_id=2993244

[HooptieWagon]

7. C) Baker and HW....

have formulated a plan to maximize Carlyle Group and Royal Saudi profits.