Democrats Who Opposed War Move Into Key Positions

[cal04]

New Committee Chairmen Had Warned of Postwar Disorder

Although given little public credit at the time, or since, many of the 126 House Democrats who spoke out and voted against the October 2002 resolution that gave President Bush authority to wage war against Iraq have turned out to be correct in their warnings about the problems a war would create.

With the Democrats taking over control of the House next January, the views that some voiced during two days of debate four years ago are worth recalling, since many of those lawmakers will move into positions of power. They include not only members of the new House leadership but also the incoming chairmen of the Appropriations, Armed Services, Budget and Judiciary committees and the Select Committee on Intelligence.

Rep. John M. Spratt Jr. (S.C.), a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, was one of several Democrats who predicted during the House floor debate that "the outcome after the conflict is actually going to be the hardest part, and it is far less certain." He credited his views in part to what he heard over breakfasts with retired generals Anthony C. Zinni and Joseph P. Hoar, both of whom had led the U.S. Army's Central Command -- a part of which is in Spratt's district.

"They made the point: We do not want to win this war, only to lose the peace and swell the ranks of terrorists who hate us," Spratt said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/03/AR2006120301108.html

[Roland99]

1. My reply in the comments section at the WaPo >>>>>>>>>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/comments/display?contentID=AR2006120301108&start=21

Thank you, Mr. Pincus. But, don't you feel a mea culpa is a bit too late. Like, oh, 4 years too late?

And to the poster, Michael Marshall. I'd like to know by what metrics you determine Iraq to be successful. Is it the >40,000 dead civilians? Is the greater than $300,000,000,000 spent so far? Is it the cessation of reconstruction? Is it the pulling out by Bechtel due to dozens of its employees being killed? Is it the lower than pre-war electricity and oil production levels? Is it the failure to capture bin Laden and al-Zawahiri? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. The public is going to be very confused

I can hear Cons (and Independents) around me scratching their heads saying, "There were 126 Democrats who voted against this? Wow! I never knew that!"

[Darkhawk32]

3. Kicked and nom'd!!! n/t

[Darkhawk32]

4. Here's the comment I left...

I find it quite ironic that despite all the facts presented by those who oppose this war, the radical right wing, which, apparantly, garys916 belongs, can only resort to sloganeering and name-calling.

I also find it quite ironic that the Iraq Study Group and other conservatives are now calling for the same procedures and steps that Kerry, Biden, Murtha, etc have been clamoring for over a year now. I guess James Baker is now a flaming liberal.

Face it, all you fake conservatives, you have zero facts on your side, you have zero legitimacy and you have marginalized yourselves to the point of near obsolessence. The fake conservatives have done enough damage to this country. Now stand aside and let the grownups get to work.

[Roland99]

5. Those 126 Dems have been vindicated.

Can't wait for January!