Harry Reid Changes The Game on Iraq

Posted on Tuesday, July 5, 2011, 1:47 pm by GottaLaff
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Imagine how much money (and how many lives) this country could save if we ended the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. And Pakistan. And Libya. And…

Well, let’s start with Iraq.

Via VetVoice:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid – the President’s top ally in the Senate – came out forcefully today against a continued American presence in Iraq, which most observers believe President Obama is for. Senator Reid said, according to the Associated Press, “As Iraq becomes increasingly capable, it is time for our own troops to return home by the end of the year and for these precious resources to be directed elsewhere. There is no question that the United States must continue to provide support for the Iraqis as they progress, but now is the time for our military mission to come to a close.”

The effect of Senator Reid’s statement on the debate cannot be understated. What had seemed to be a non-issue to many is now a debate with the leader of the President’s own party in the Senate issuing the President a strong warning. Reid’s words open the door for other Democrats to come out against our troops staying in Iraq past our Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) deadline.

Please go to their site to read the whole thing. More from the Associated Press:

It was the first public statement by a top party leader to oppose Obama’s policy in Iraq, and may signal splintering Democratic support over his war planning just as he ramps up his 2012 re-election campaign.

I’m hearing from many Dems in many personal conversations, tweets, and chat forums, that they, too, are splintering over this and over a whole lot more. It will be interesting to see if the president is listening, and more interesting to see if he’ll do more to regain the support from a base that appears to be slipping away.

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  • Jeannie Jackson

    Finally one person on Capital Hill that realizes that killing and wars in the Middle East are a waste of time, money and lives.  Just hope my son comes home okay from his 4th trip to Afghanistan–I mean why do we have such a stupid  military that sends the same people over and over again to the war zone of the world?  Glad Harry Reid gets it, but yes, it’s too bad people didn’t listen to him in 4/07 when he said the war was lost–instead of us keeping on fighting the battles of those in the Middle East?  Yeah, it was a loss alright–poor Obama still forgets he was just voted as President of America – not the world.

  • David G.

    Way to go, Harry… it’s about time you showed you had some balls… Maybe now they’ll drop and you’ll truly prove you’re a man — and get us out of Afghanistan.  DG