August 23, 2007

GOP Senators Need Only Half Day in Iraq to Declare Significant Progress

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Senator Jim Webb has called the military-organized trips American politicians take to Iraq “dog-and-pony shows.” Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Bob Corker (R-TN) must have seen one hell of a show earlier this week, because they’re declaring “clear success, province by province” after just a half day in country.

Yup. The Tennessee duo spent 10-14 hours of their four day trip actually in Iraq. Yet Alexander felt comfortable saying, “There are probably seven provinces where enough progress has been made to involve Iraqis in their own security.”

The good news, amidst all this disingenuousness, is that both Senators seemed to think things were going so well in Iraq that we could start reducing the number of soldiers there. I’m smelling a positive September report, followed by Republicans claiming it’s time to start shuffling troops home. Bush will claim we have grand obligations to Iraq, but will reduce troops in time to kill the Democrats’ biggest 2008 advantage.

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That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

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