Showing posts with label Reid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reid. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

The anti-Schizophrenia Drugs wore off... again



In Firmly in control, I illustrated the egregious and schizophrenic behavior of many on the left side of the Congressional aisle.


Over the last few months, Democratic leaders have begun acting even more erratically.


In November 2006, Nancy Pelosi chose Silvestre Reyes as House Intelligence Committee chairman. Reyes promptly told Newsweek, "We're not going to have stability in Iraq until we eliminate those militias, those private armies. We have to consider the need for additional troops to be in Iraq, to take out the militias and stabilize Iraq. I would say 20,000 to 30,000-for the specific purpose of making sure those militias are dismantled, working in concert with the Iraqi military."


Next, the Democrats in the Senate gave unanimous confirmation to Robert Gates as defense secretary.


On November 30, the Democrats' Senate leader, Harry Reid, said, "We're not going to do anything to limit funding or cut off funds."


On December 17, Reid, said it was reasonable to send more troops to Iraq: "If the commanders on the ground said this is just for a short period of time, we'll go along with that."


In January, the Senate confirmed Army General David Petraeus 81-0.


Well. I suppose times have changed. Or the anti-schizophrenia drugs wore off - once again. Once the commanders requested a surge of troops for -- yes -- a short period of time, Reid promptly reversed himself. The National Ledger observes that Reid has decided to cut off funding for American troops while they are at war. The liberal democrat said Monday he wants to cut off money for the Iraq war next year, making clear for the first time that Democrats are willing to pull out all the stops to end U.S. involvement. Playing to his far left base, the US Senate leader said Monday that he will join forces with Feingold, one of the party's most liberal members who has long called to end the war by denying funding for it.


This really shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Between 1998 and 2004, key Democratic leaders changed their tune on Saddam Hussein faster than Michael Moore can down a Biggie-sized Wendy's Triple.

* * *

Writing at the National Review, Kate O'Beirne observed:

Rather than back a non-binding resolution of disaproval, why didn't the gutsy Senators, like Chuck Hagel, who are riding the surf of public opinion opposed to the troop surge and taking on a president with approval ratings at the freezing level vote aginst General Petraeus' confirmation? Their convictions hold that he has endorsed a wholly unjustified escalation and will be leading troops on a futile mission. They want a role in the conduct of the war and with the need to win Senate confirmation of Gen. Petraeus the Constitution has given them one, but they have taken a pass.

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, given their egregious track record of flip-flops.


One hopes that a knowledgeable M.D. in Congress can prescribe some Lexapro, a drug typically used to combat bi-polar disorders.

No matter. It's crystal clear -- even to the Left -- that the American people can't trust the Democratic leadership to hold a position longer than they can hold their breath.

They're a joke, but America's military isn't laughing with them.


Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress, Astute Bloggers, Atlas Shrugs, Captain's Quarters, Discerning Texan, Gateway Pundit, Hang Right Politics, OTB, Wizbang

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Party of Gullibility backs European Corporations and Iran


Democrats are fond of offering up various European 'allies' to assist our efforts to slow Iran's quest for nuclear weapons.


John Edwards: "...The former North Carolina senator said the U.S. and its European allies have the leverage and resources to enlist Iran's cooperation..."


Joe Biden: "...A top Democratic senator urged the Bush administration Sunday to join three European allies in negotiating with Iran to get it to abandon its nuclear programs..."


Hillary Clinton: "...we need to convince our European allies of [Iranian proxy] Hezbollah's threat..."

Unfortunately, today's Journal describes in precise terms why such an approach is fatally flawed (Europe and the Mullahs - subscription required).

...The European Union -- led by Germany, France and Italy -- has long been Iran's largest trading partner. Its share of Iran's total imports is about 35%. Even more notable: Its trade with Tehran has expanded since Iran's secret nuclear program was exposed. Between 2003 and 2005, Europe's exports rose 29% to €12.9 billion; machinery, transport equipment and chemicals make up the bulk of the sales. Imports from Iran, predominantly oil, increased 62% to €11.4 billion in that period...


...The Europeans aren't simply facilitating business between private companies. The vast majority of Iranian industry is state-controlled, while even private companies have been known to act as fronts for the country's nuclear program. EU taxpayers underwrite trade and investment that would otherwise be deterred by the risks of doing business with a rogue regime...

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to link the interests of Europe's most powerful corporations (although it's apparently beyond the intellectual acumen of the typical Democrat). According to a German newspaper, a Foreign Minister told Iran's Mullahs that Europe would act as a "protective shield" against the U.S.-led campaign to end Iran's nuclear program.


The E.U. is behaving outrageously -- but predictably -- as it continues to shield its corporate ties with Iran. That's Iran: the world's largest sponsor of terrorism and a deadly totalitarian regime that has promised to destroy the U.S., the U.K., and Israel.

* * *

Lest we forget, Democrats also advocated a similar outsourcing approach with Saddam Hussein's Iraq, which served as a veritable clearinghouse of terrorism:


Consider Harry Reid, "who calls himself a "hawk," not a dove, has nevertheless been adamant that Bush vigorously pursue the support of the United Nations and European allies, calling a go-it-alone attack a very last resort..."


As we now know, some of our European allies (e.g., France), had been utterly corrupted by bribes taken under the aegis of the United Nations' "Oil for Food" program. In fact, the U.N.'s "Independent Inquiry Committee" found that the operation had permitted, "illicit, unethical, and corrupt behavior" that decimated the effectiveness of the $64 billion operation.

* * *

I find it incredibly ironic that the same party that routinely attacks large U.S. corporations -- from Exxon Mobil to Wal-Mart -- now backs Europe's largest corporations in its corrupt, destructive, and hydra-like ties with Tehran.


Iran has been blatant and unremorseful about its quest for nuclear weapons. And it long ago declared war on the U.S., U.K., and Israel.

It's a pity that the Party of Gullibility has become an apologist for enormous corporate interests and the inexorable crawl of a terrorist state towards the acquisition of nuclear weapons.


Oven-baked good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress, Atlas Shrugs, Captain's Quarters, Flopping Aces, Hang Right Politics, Hugh Hewitt, Outside the Beltway, Rick Moran, STACLU, Wizbang