This just came in from Americans United For Change. I second the motion:
Specter Must Say NO to Bush Trying to Move Back Iraq
Judgment Day
Day after Bush Administration pleads for yet More Time
for Already failed Strategy – Begging to Extend Judgment
on Iraq from September to November –
Specter must say NO – Times Up
Washington – A day after the Bush Administration, through its Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, begged to extend the judgment day on the President’s already failed escalation strategy from September to November, Americans United for Change called on Senator Arlen Specter to tell the President “No – time’s up.”
Petraeus, Crocker
Briefings Fall Flat
US
News │ 7/20/07
Gen. David Petraeus and US ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker briefed lawmakers
Thursday via satellite from Baghdad, and appealed for additional time for the
so-called "surge" to succeed. The Los
Angeles Times reports Crocker "predicted...that a key September report
would show progress in Iraq,
but that it would be November before they could judge the success of the troop
buildup." The comments "were a new indication that the White House
planned to seek still more time for its troop 'surge' to stabilize the situation
in Iraq."
In fact, the AP
reports that Petraeus' deputy in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno,
later told reporters he would "need beyond September to tell if
improvements represent long-term trends."
The testimony – and particularly remarks
by Crocker arguing against the relevance of meeting "benchmarks" by
September – was poorly received both by members of Congress and media
commentators.
“With Iraq’s civil war raging out of control, with sectarian violence on the rise and with 100 Americans dying each month, President Bush has the unmitigated gall to put his mouthpieces out front asking for yet more and more time for a strategy which has failed for now going on five years,” said Brad Woodhouse of Americans United for Change. “If President Bush is to stubborn to see the obvious, it’s up to Members of Congress to demand a change of course to get our men and women out of the crosshairs of a civil war and to change policy in Iraq now – not in September, not in November, but now. Senator Specter has a duty and an obligation to the people of his state and to the men and women of the armed services to say enough is enough, Mr. President – your time is up – no do overs, not extensions – no more kicking the can down the road.”
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