Iraq Report

General Petraeus gave his assessment of Iraq today (confirmed by Senate 81-0 to lead the forces in Iraq) amid much scorn from Democrats. Truthfully, the Dems in Congress (and elsewhere) were the ones that wanted the September report so bad, they were short of votes to cut out of Iraq and felt the surge would do no good and only help them to get more converts to their side.

Lo and behold, the surge worked well enough that even the MSM decided to print some on it. Varoius Democratic leaders went to Iraq and reported on progress and no more votes to run were given. Of course, that was before the report.

In the weeks and days leading up to the report, Democrats and their 'base' have steadily been downplaying the report by calling Petraeus a 'bush-mouthpiece' and saying his report is lies and 'cooked' for the Whitehouse (yes he was confirmed 81-0, had to have been a few D's in that vote) before they even laid eyes on the report. With the news on the MSM and from the Democrats that took the time to visit the war zone, they knew they had to jump out in front of this thing.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Republicans accused Democrats on Monday of embracing "character assassination" against Iraq war commander General David Petraeus, hours before his key testimony to the US Congress.

Pent-up political fury over the war spilled over before the appearance by Petraeus and US ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker before the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees later Monday.

The flare-up was sparked by a full-page advertisement in The New York Times placed by anti-war liberal campaign group MoveOn.org, reading "General Petraeus or General Betray US? Cooking the Books for the White House."

White House spokesman Tony Snow said that the advertisement represented a "boorish, childish, unworthy attack.

Top Democratic Senator Joseph Biden said on NBC that he did not agree with the sentiments of the advertisement, but also disagreed with Petraeus's expected conclusion that the current troop surge in Iraq was working and should be extended.

"I really respect him, and I think he's dead, flat wrong," Biden said of Petraeus on NBC television.

"The truth of the matter is that ... this administration's policy and the surge are a failure."[link] {emp. mine-LN}

Notice the last quote from Biden, remember, this is BEFORE he heard the report. Do you honestly think he'll pay ANY attention to what the General says? The Democrats are convinced that they have a 'mandate' to stop the war, yet they are too cowardly to actually do so. There is an election coming up and they feel (rightly I think) that ending the conflict as a party would damage their chances in '08.

I realize that Republicans aren't saints (they have a lot that needs to be fixed in the party so conservatives like me can again feel comfortable with them) but they are the best bet we have to keeping this country safe and on track economically. Until or unless a Conservative party emerges, I will continue to support Republicans over Democrats for precisely these reasons.

(other news on the report here)