Rep. Brian Baird (D): Our troops have earned more time

[sabra]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003850954_bairdop24.html


Our troops have earned more time

By Brian Baird


The invasion of Iraq may be one of the worst foreign-policy mistakes in the history of our nation. As tragic and costly as that mistake has been, a precipitous or premature withdrawal of our forces now has the potential to turn the initial errors into an even greater problem just as success looks possible.

As a Democrat who voted against the war from the outset and who has been frankly critical of the administration and the post-invasion strategy, I am convinced by the evidence that the situation has at long last begun to change substantially for the better. I believe Iraq could have a positive future. Our diplomatic and military leaders in Iraq, their current strategy, and most importantly, our troops and the Iraqi people themselves, deserve our continued support and more time to succeed.

I understand the desire of many of our citizens and my colleagues in Congress to bring the troops home as soon as possible. The costs have been horrific for our soldiers, their families, the Iraqi people and the economy. If we keep our troops on the ground we will lose more lives, continue to spend billions each week, and, given the history and complex interests of the region, there is no certainty that our efforts will succeed in the long run. We must be absolutely honest about these costs and risks and I am both profoundly saddened and angry that we are where we are.

Knowing all this, how can someone who opposed the war now call for continuing the new directions that have been taken in Iraq? The answer is that the people, strategies and facts on the ground have changed for the better and those changes justify changing our position on what should be done.

:eyes:

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Get this guy away from the Kool-Ade!!

[Sagan]

2. Defense Industry lobbyists, hard at work...

This war is a blank check to them.. they never want it to end.

[Supersedeas]

22. and the Petro Industry has his other ear

[annabanana]

3. Yeah... I expect more time in Iraq is EXACTLY what the troops want.

:sarcasm:

[Skip Intro]

9. right - we owe it to the troops to keep them there - killing and dying

[Greeby]

4. How come the state that gives us Jim McDermott

Also gives us this guy? :eyes:

[Bitwit1234]

5. Maybe we should ask him and his family to volunteer so they

can come home and the war will have more time. Especially with those that are supporting it.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Marginalize him, pay him no heed, and move on. He will be gone in '08.

He was bought and paid for. He's despicable.

[spanone]

7. earned more time to what???? DIE? you dumbfuck

[BlooInBloo]

8. We need to get rid of this fucker.

[BanzaiBonnie]

10. In our slightly red district, this smells like politician talk to me

I'm going to see him at a town meeting on Monday. He's going to have to answer for this change of position.

[ashling]

15. What county are you in

I lived in Thurston for a while before moving home to TX.

[ashling]

11. I am at a loss for words

I lived in Thurston County, Wa. for 3 years a few years back and worked for Brian there. My family and I got to know him and really like him as a person and a politician. I do not agree with, or understand his position on this. This does not seem to be the same man who I worked with and grew to admire.

[spanone]

12. saw this creep on tv this week.....he is NOT a democrat...he's a mole

[ashling]

18. I don't agree with Brian on this,

far from it - but your remarks seem a little perfunctory.

[OwnedByFerrets]

13. That wire tapping finally dug up something on

him. Its either come to the dark side or darth spills your proverbial blood.

[H2O Man]

14. At the same time,

we see certain republicans calling for a withdrawal. That begs the question: in 2008, which party will be viewed as "in touch with the American public"?

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. Dumb ass. The more time they spend in that hell hole, the greater their chances of DYING.

OMG!!!!!!! The Democrats are completely IGNORING the 2006 election and why they are in the Majority! They were elected to get us the hell out of the occupation!:grr::grr::nuke::nuke::nuke::grr::grr:

How many of Mr. Dumb Ass Baird's children are now serving in Iraq?:grr: It's always fine and dandy for someone Else's child to die!:grr:

dumb fucking bastard.

[ashling]

20. see my post # 13 above

nt

[DeeDeeNY]

17. Umm, isn't he supposed to be representing his constituents?

I hope the people in his district remind him that he works for them. Perhaps he should change his affiliation from the Democratic party to the Lieberman party.

[Poppa]

19. Brian Baird

As soon as I read what Baird had said a couple of days ago, I
wrote him an e-mail asking him to explain his actions. As one
of his constituents and someone who has supported and voted
for him since he first ran for the House of Representatives, I
feel that I am entitled to an explanation of how he could go
against the majority of his supporters and back that dumbshit
Bush. To date I've received no reply and frankly don't expect
one. 

Baird has joined with Lieberman and the other Vichy Democrats
in supporting a failed war policy that will lead only to more
deaths for US troops and the continued destruction of Iraq,
not to mentioned the collective hatred of the rest of the
world.  Obviously he has no respect for the views of his
constituents and the vast majority of the members of the
Democratic Party in Washington. He must be replaced by a true
progressive Democratic candidate for the November '08 general
election.   

[Jack Rabbit]

21. This is not about the troops "earning" more time

This is about whether Bush has earned more time. He has not.