Posted by
Jay Noble on Tuesday, January 09, 2007 5:12:05 PM
Senator Edward Kennedy wants the Congress to vote to prohibit funding for additional American troops to be sent to Iraq, as President Bush is expected to announce soon. For once, I agree with Teddy; the Congress should vote, for I think it useful for the representatives of the American people to go on record in whether they support an effort to win in Iraq.
President Bush should embrace having a vote. However, he should make clear what the effect of a negative vote would be. He should declare that the status quo in Iraq cannot continue, that the only options are for the U.S. to increase its forces in an effort to win the conflict, or for a rapid pullout. The president should state that demanding our military sacrifice lives in continuing the status quo which everyone agrees is unacceptable is not an option.
While the president cannot state this, it should also be understood that the effort of a negative vote will not only announce the beginning of end of United States involvement in Iraq but also mark the end of the U.S. as the preeminent world power. Only a nation led by fools would rely on the assurances of the U.S., whose political leadership will have demonstrated that the country cannot sustain a commitment in the face of even minimal casualties or opposition. The United States will be exposed for the world to see as a paper tiger, a cowardly lion unwilling to put in the effort to back up its warnings.
Additionally, having a vote will accelerate the Democrats dropping the mask of "supporting the troops" and allow them to declare their true feelings about what the U.S. should do in Iraq, that is, cut and run. It’s obvious how uncomfortable they are maintaining the fiction of moderation regarding the Iraq conflict, when so many of the members of their base are foaming at the mouth to quit the field at once. Let the Democrat base call in their chips and find out who really is with them. A vote will reveal if the Democrats really would vote to betray an American army in the field, to belittle their sacrifice and denigrate their mission.
Having a vote will smoke out those cowardly Republicans who have joined the defeat and retreat chorus. Let the vote identify them. Let them join the Democrats in an act of infamy, an abdication of responsibility, a betrayal of trust with consequences at once so terrible and damaging to the people of Iraq, the credibility of the United States, and the national security of the American people as to stagger the mind. Lets know them by name.
The United States is living in a period of maximum danger while being lead by a Congress dominated by a political party whose leadership embraces a philosophy of surrender and a few Republican "girlie men." Better to sort out the patriots from the gutless blowhards now rather than later.
So, by all means, lets have a vote.