Another Commission To Second Guess Iraq
CNN reported this afternoon that There will be a panel convened to estimate Iraq on many levels:
Congress unveiled an independent panel on Wednesday assigned to study the U.S.-led war in Iraq and to make policy recommendations for both Capitol Hill and the White House.
The bipartisan Iraq Study Group -- led by former Secretary of State James Baker, a Republican, and former Democratic congressman Lee Hamilton -- is designed to focus "fresh eyes" on the war debate from people who "love their country more than their party," said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Virginia, during a Capitol Hill news conference.
Wolf -- who first proposed creating the group -- said he has had "extensive conversations" with the White House about the need for such an assessment.
He wants a "second opinion" about the war from a well-known and respected group of Americans -- all of whom long involved in public service.
Wolf wants them to say whether the war is going well or poorly and to explain the ramifications if the U.S. mission were to fail, said Dan Scandling, a top aide to Wolf.
"Our purpose is to undertake a bipartisan, forward-looking assessment of the current and prospective situation on the ground in Iraq and its impact on the surrounding region, and its consequences on United States interests," said Baker, who served as the country's top diplomat in the administration of President George H.W. Bush.
The group will focus on the political, military, security and reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
"There is no issue confronting our nation, the coalition of nations working with us, and indeed the free world, than to try and bring back a measure of stability and peace to this troubled region of the world, Iraq," said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, also a Virginia Republican.
Baker and Hamilton, an Indiana Democrat who also co-chaired the independent 9/11 commission, declined to give their views on the Iraq war.
Hamilton called Iraq a "formidable challenge" but said, "We make no judgment right now."
The group will be made up of five Republicans and five Democrats.
They include: former CIA Director Robert Gates; former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican; former Clinton adviser Vernon Jordan; former Clinton Chief of Staff Leon Panetta; former Clinton administration Defense Secretary William Perry; former Democratic Sen. Chuck Robb; and Alan Simpson, a Republican former senator from Wyoming.
Panel members said another prominent Republican will join the group but declined to say who it is. A congressional Democratic leadership aide identified that person as retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Hamilton said the group will travel to Iraq and may produce interim reports before issuing a final report but he declined to give a timeframe for release of those reports. He said the group would make every effort to reach bipartisan recommendations.
Wolf said Congress will appropriate $1.3 million to fund the group, which will work under the auspices of the congressionally chartered U.S. Institute for Peace and three think tanks.
Let me first state that this is a bad idea. Worse yet, it is a complete farce. Despite people like James Baker, Rudy Giuliani, and Frank Wolf, this commission was put together by Congress to do one specific thing.
They are going to second guess the administration regarding the invasion of, and subsequent stabilization of Iraq. We have the military spread throughout the country, and a capable ambassador over there that is in constant, daily contact with both Secretary Rice and Secretary Rumsfeld. If there is anything that needs to be done, he can convey that. And it is preposterous that a group of civilians are gathering to question the military. None of these people have been in a war like this, and next-to-no concept of what is needed to finish the mission over there. This will be Bush-bashing at it's worst.
This is also more of Congress sticking their nose into something where is does not belong. Simply put, under Article II, Section 2, the president is the "Commander in Chief" of the military of the United States. Congress has only one option if it wants a say in the war, and they disagree with the president.
Cut the funding. Cut it, and force the president to withdraw troops. They will not do that because they know that: A) they cannot get the two-thirds majority to pass it, guaranteeing an override of a presidential veto, and B) going into an election season, none of these dimwits would be willing to cook their political career. See, despite the phony poll numbers showing a lack of support for the war, there is still plenty of support around the country. Many people have loved ones in harm's way, and refuse to quit supporting them. Unlike the intellectually dishonest antiwar nuts, when we support the troops we also support the mission.
There is no question about that right here on this site.
What irritates me is that Congress simply will not take the hint. They still disbelieve that they caused many of the problems during Vietnam. They helped fuel the antiwar movement that destroyed morale in the United States. And thes establishment of this commission will only add fuel to the smoldering fire already. Just as we start to get the flames out, for the most part, some nitwit comes along and throws Bacardi 151 on the fire.
Hugh Hewitt commented on this issue, as well, and I concur. This commission will go down in the annals of history as equal to: The commission to rebuild after the Civil War, The infamous Church Commission, and the 9/11 Commission. These commissions all did more damage to the military and our intelligence agencies than any others.
This commission never should have been allowed. The president had better be prepared. This will be a bash fest for the president's detractors, and they will scream for a cut-and-run strategy, likely adding more fuel to the Murtha argument. This was a bad idea, and whoever came up with it in Congress, if up for reelection, they should be voted out of office.
The Bunny ;)
CNN reported this afternoon that There will be a panel convened to estimate Iraq on many levels:
Congress unveiled an independent panel on Wednesday assigned to study the U.S.-led war in Iraq and to make policy recommendations for both Capitol Hill and the White House.
The bipartisan Iraq Study Group -- led by former Secretary of State James Baker, a Republican, and former Democratic congressman Lee Hamilton -- is designed to focus "fresh eyes" on the war debate from people who "love their country more than their party," said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Virginia, during a Capitol Hill news conference.
Wolf -- who first proposed creating the group -- said he has had "extensive conversations" with the White House about the need for such an assessment.
He wants a "second opinion" about the war from a well-known and respected group of Americans -- all of whom long involved in public service.
Wolf wants them to say whether the war is going well or poorly and to explain the ramifications if the U.S. mission were to fail, said Dan Scandling, a top aide to Wolf.
"Our purpose is to undertake a bipartisan, forward-looking assessment of the current and prospective situation on the ground in Iraq and its impact on the surrounding region, and its consequences on United States interests," said Baker, who served as the country's top diplomat in the administration of President George H.W. Bush.
The group will focus on the political, military, security and reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
"There is no issue confronting our nation, the coalition of nations working with us, and indeed the free world, than to try and bring back a measure of stability and peace to this troubled region of the world, Iraq," said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, also a Virginia Republican.
Baker and Hamilton, an Indiana Democrat who also co-chaired the independent 9/11 commission, declined to give their views on the Iraq war.
Hamilton called Iraq a "formidable challenge" but said, "We make no judgment right now."
The group will be made up of five Republicans and five Democrats.
They include: former CIA Director Robert Gates; former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican; former Clinton adviser Vernon Jordan; former Clinton Chief of Staff Leon Panetta; former Clinton administration Defense Secretary William Perry; former Democratic Sen. Chuck Robb; and Alan Simpson, a Republican former senator from Wyoming.
Panel members said another prominent Republican will join the group but declined to say who it is. A congressional Democratic leadership aide identified that person as retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Hamilton said the group will travel to Iraq and may produce interim reports before issuing a final report but he declined to give a timeframe for release of those reports. He said the group would make every effort to reach bipartisan recommendations.
Wolf said Congress will appropriate $1.3 million to fund the group, which will work under the auspices of the congressionally chartered U.S. Institute for Peace and three think tanks.
Let me first state that this is a bad idea. Worse yet, it is a complete farce. Despite people like James Baker, Rudy Giuliani, and Frank Wolf, this commission was put together by Congress to do one specific thing.
They are going to second guess the administration regarding the invasion of, and subsequent stabilization of Iraq. We have the military spread throughout the country, and a capable ambassador over there that is in constant, daily contact with both Secretary Rice and Secretary Rumsfeld. If there is anything that needs to be done, he can convey that. And it is preposterous that a group of civilians are gathering to question the military. None of these people have been in a war like this, and next-to-no concept of what is needed to finish the mission over there. This will be Bush-bashing at it's worst.
This is also more of Congress sticking their nose into something where is does not belong. Simply put, under Article II, Section 2, the president is the "Commander in Chief" of the military of the United States. Congress has only one option if it wants a say in the war, and they disagree with the president.
Cut the funding. Cut it, and force the president to withdraw troops. They will not do that because they know that: A) they cannot get the two-thirds majority to pass it, guaranteeing an override of a presidential veto, and B) going into an election season, none of these dimwits would be willing to cook their political career. See, despite the phony poll numbers showing a lack of support for the war, there is still plenty of support around the country. Many people have loved ones in harm's way, and refuse to quit supporting them. Unlike the intellectually dishonest antiwar nuts, when we support the troops we also support the mission.
There is no question about that right here on this site.
What irritates me is that Congress simply will not take the hint. They still disbelieve that they caused many of the problems during Vietnam. They helped fuel the antiwar movement that destroyed morale in the United States. And thes establishment of this commission will only add fuel to the smoldering fire already. Just as we start to get the flames out, for the most part, some nitwit comes along and throws Bacardi 151 on the fire.
Hugh Hewitt commented on this issue, as well, and I concur. This commission will go down in the annals of history as equal to: The commission to rebuild after the Civil War, The infamous Church Commission, and the 9/11 Commission. These commissions all did more damage to the military and our intelligence agencies than any others.
This commission never should have been allowed. The president had better be prepared. This will be a bash fest for the president's detractors, and they will scream for a cut-and-run strategy, likely adding more fuel to the Murtha argument. This was a bad idea, and whoever came up with it in Congress, if up for reelection, they should be voted out of office.
The Bunny ;)
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 12:50 AM
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