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Harry Reid Tries to Reinvent His 'War Is Lost' Statement

1 year ago
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Back in April 2007, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) famously said the Iraq War "is lost and the surge is not accomplishing anything, as indicated by the extreme violence in Iraq yesterday."

Now, Sharron Angle's team is pointing out that Reid is engaged in a bit of historical revisionism.

Angle's argument is based on what Zac Petkanas, a Reid spokesman, said this past weekend:
"Senator Reid's comment was in agreement with General Petraeus' assessment that the Iraq War could not be won by military force alone and that a political solution was also needed as part of a two-part strategy -- which President Bush refused to pursue."
This, of course, seems contrived. Four months earlier, when President Bush announced the surge in a Jan. 10 address to the nation, he stressed that:
"Our troops will have a well-defined mission: to help Iraqis clear and secure neighborhoods, to help them protect the local population, and to help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing the security that Baghdad needs."
Furthermore, Bush referred to the Iraqi government more than a dozen times, stressing that when daily life improves,
"Iraqis will gain confidence in their leaders, and the government will have the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas."
But the attempts at revisionist history do not end there. Reid is also attempting to argue that he and Petraeus were in agreement -- while the bellicose Bush just didn't "get it." In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, Reid was not in agreement with Petraeus, nor was he inclined to believe anything he might say about the surge.

Just days after declaring "the war is lost," Reid appeared on CNN's "The Situation Room" and was informed that Petraeus would come to the Hill and say the surge is working. When asked, "Will you believe him when he says that?" Reid responded, "No, I don't believe him, because it's not happening. All you have to do is look at the facts."

Reid also voted against condemning MoveOn.org's attacks on Petraeus, which called him "General Betray Us."

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frankmoran77

I remember when I was a kid and my 5 brothers and sisters would take family trips up to the Catskills. Sometimes my mother would drive and other times my father would drive. When my father drove, my mother would complain about his driving. When my mother drove the car, my father would complain about her driving. We sat in the back not caring much about who was driving as long as we got to where we needed to go. Being kids, we knew we could not change the driver, the route we were on or any other details involved in getting there. We just sat in the back and fought with each other most of the ride.

That is what we the electorate has been doing in this country for the past 40 years with the politicians who are supposed to be serving us the people. When the Republicans are in the drivers seat we hear the Democrats complain about the route or the way the car is being driven. When the Democrats are in the driver’s seat we hear the Republicans complain about the way the car is moving. And we the citizens are in the back fighting with each other, not caring about the results or consequences just as long as we got what we think we deserve and not inconvenienced along the way. With each change of the driver we feel like it’s just the way the car gets driven and we cannot get access to the steering wheel anyway so what can we do? That’s just what goes on in politics and we can’t change that.

Well, I am here to beg each of you my fellow Americans to take back the steering wheel from these so called servants of the people. They firmly believe that the car is theirs and not the peoples. They are driving all of us right off the cliff and we are allowing it to happen and we do not have to let it. These self centered, self serving elitist think they do not have to listen to us anymore and that they know best. Well it is time for us the people to take back the wheel! The current drivers are lost and cannot see the road in front of them.

Spending money on wars, bailouts, 2400 unread pages of laws with huge consequences for all of us and failed programs that continue to suck the future lives of our children. In order to change both the drivers and direction of our future, we need to do a safety check on the people who want to take the wheel. That means doing our part and returning to the basics of what a public servant’s job is supposed to be. Stop voting for a person based upon the letter next to their name a D or an R should no longer be the criteria for a vote. Look into your value system and vote for the person who is closest to that. That means getting involved and asking them questions, tough questions. Let’s make this an interview instead of a tryout! We no longer can sit in the back of the car and complain. We need to get better drivers or become the ones that control the car. Take back the wheel and make them accountable. Not accept the status quo and say that’s the way things get done in D.C. Not anymore, Get involved and stop letting them be unaccountable to us for the insanity they are dropping on us like NY pigeons.

GRAB THE WHEEL!!!!!

Thank you.

August 10 2010 at 11:44 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
brittanicus01

Throw out all incumbents in November, including Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) an ardent supporter of a pro-amnesty agenda. Find out who is on the American workers side and the lawmaker who have appalling records for enforcing immigration laws at NumbersUSA Or call the Washington switchboard demanding no more--sleight-of-hand amnesties and no more "Anchor Babies". In addition prosecute painfully all employers who hire illegal immigrants and make it mandatory to use E-Verify. In conclusion construct the true double border fence, make it a felony to illegally enter America and go after all Governors, Mayors, Judges, Police chiefs and elected officials who allow Sanctuary Cities to thrive?

August 09 2010 at 6:54 PM Report abuse +8 rate up rate down Reply
ettu

Harry Reid has been one of the most voracious piggies at the trough in DC, and for WAAAAAAY too long. Time for Harry to retire......he'll get an enormous pension, and tremendous healthcare benefits which will be guaranteed for his lifetime. So don't cry for Harry, Nevada voters.

August 09 2010 at 12:48 PM Report abuse +12 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to ettu's comment
ernestvalerius

Hopefully, Sharron Angle recants her 2nd admendment remedy for political change and Harry has a WAAAAAAAY long lifetime to enjoy the benefits now guaranteed for all American.

August 09 2010 at 1:25 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply

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