Unlike the "fifth column" of old, there is nothing clandestine about this movement. Wikipedia defines fifth column thus "A fifth column is a group of people which clandestinely undermines a larger group to which it is expected to be loyal, such as a nation." The leaders of this group, Pelosi, Reid, Murtha, and many more including a few Republicans like Chuck Hagel are not only willing to raise the white flag of surrender but are openly and actively doing everything in their power to guarantee defeat and take us back to a 9/10 status.Are they doing this because they feel that it is best for the country? In a word, no. They are doing it for their own political/personal gain.They are so heavily invested in defeat that rational thought has no place in their agenda.
Harry Reid has gone so far as to declare the war lost, the surge a failure even though it has just started and is showing signs of progress, and then goes on the malign Gen.David Petraeus, whose report he dismisses as valueless. Here is the video at Hot Air. Unlike some Democrats, he’ll hear Petraeus out; he’ll just simply refuse to believe anything he says that doesn’t fit the left’s narrative.
Neville Nancy won't even deign to meet the the field commander.
As the House and Senate prepare to vote this week on the final conference report on the $124 billion troop funding bill — which would also mandate that U.S. combat troops begin withdrawing from Iraq on Oct. 1 at the latest — Gen. David Petraeus is scheduled to come to the Hill tomorrow to brief lawmakers on the progress of the recent troop escalation.So what was so important that Pelosi could not attend a briefing on the progress of the war? Another trip to Syria perhaps? And what does John Murtha say about the Republicans accusing Congress of micromanaging the war? From CNN:ABC News has learned, however, that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will not attend the briefing.
"She can't make the briefing tomorrow," a Democratic aide told ABC News Tuesday evening. "But she spoke with the general via phone today at some length."
A Pelosi aide said the speaker on Tuesday requested a one-on-one meeting with Petraeus but that could not be worked out. He said their phone conversation lasted 30 minutes.
CNN's John Roberts: "Joining me now is one of the most vocal advocates of a pullout from Iraq, Democratic Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania. ... You heard what President Bush said, that Congress shouldn't be micromanaging the war. What do you say?" Rep. John Murtha: "That's our job, John." (CNN's "American Morning," 4/24/07)Click here for that video.
Nevada Soldiers have responded to their Senator here. And Michele Malkin has posted several letters from our troops in Iraq as well. Here, here, here and here.
I guess Reid would call those comments more of Cheney being an "attack dog," when Cheney is really giving a point by point refutation of all of Reid's positions. Will Reid have the intellectually honesty to address Cheney's points or will he just resort back to complaining that Cheney is attacking him?
Somehow, it's being an "attack dog" to go out and defend his administration from the allegations leveled at it daily. Cheney responded with these comments today pointing out all of Senator Reid's twists and turns on Iraq.
I usually avoid press comment when I’m up here, but I felt so strongly about what Senator Reid said in the last couple of days, that I thought it was appropriate that I come out today and make a statement that I think needs to be made.
I thought his speech yesterday was unfortunate, that his comments were uninformed and misleading. Senator Reid has taken many positions on Iraq. He has threatened that if the President vetoes the current pending supplemental legislation, that he will send up Senator Russ Feingold's bill to de-fund Iraq operations altogether.
Yet only last November, Senator Reid said there would be no cutoff of funds for the military in Iraq. So in less than six months' time, Senator Reid has gone from pledging full funding for the military, then full funding but with conditions, and then a cutoff of funding — three positions in five months on the most important foreign policy question facing the nation and our troops.
Yesterday, Senator Reid said the troop surge was against the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. That is plainly false. The Iraq Study Group report was explicitly favorable toward a troop surge to secure Baghdad. Senator Reid said there should be a regional conference on Iraq. Apparently, he doesn't know that there is going to be one next week. Senator Reid said he doesn't have real substantive meetings with the President. Yet immediately following last week's meeting at the White House, he said, "It was a good exchange; everyone voiced their considered opinion about the war in Iraq."
What's most troubling about Senator Reid's comments yesterday is his defeatism. Indeed, last week, he said the war is already lost. And the timetable legislation that he is now pursuing would guarantee defeat.
Maybe it's a political calculation. Some Democratic leaders seem to believe that blind opposition to the new strategy in Iraq is good politics. Senator Reid himself has said that the war in Iraq will bring his party more seats in the next election. It is cynical to declare that the war is lost because you believe it gives you political advantage. Leaders should make decisions based on the security interests of our country, not on the interests of their political party.
Or will he call him a liar like he just implied in this CNN interview that General Petraeus is?
BASH: You talked several times about General Petraeus. You know that he is here in town. He was at the White House today, sitting with the president in the Oval Office and the president said that he wants to make it clear that Washington should not be telling him, General Petraeus, a commander on the ground in Iraq, what to do, particularly, the president was talking about Democrats in Congress. He also said that General Petraeus is going to come to the Hill and make it clear to you that there is progress going on in Iraq, that the so-called surge is working. Will you believe him when he says that?
REID: No, I don't believe him, because it's not happening.
Yup, because Reid knows so much more than the general on the ground that he doesn't even need to listen to what he has to say. Hat tip Betsy Newmark at Betsy's Page
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