From ABC News’ Political Radar:
ABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Republican Senator Richard Lugar, the ranking member on the Foreign Relations Committee, made a stunning speech on the Senate floor this evening after most people had gone home. Watch the video HERE.He said the president and Congress must start planning to redeploy American troops from Iraq now.
Waiting for September 2007, when Army General David Petraeus is set to report about the progress of Bush’s recently ordered troop buildup is not smart, said Lugar.
Doing so would force the Iraq strategy debate into the presidential campaign, which would drag out at least through 2008, Lugar said.
“In 2003, we witnessed the costs that come with insufficient planning for the aftermath of the Iraq invasion,” said Lugar.
“It is absolutely essential that we not repeat the same mistake. The longer we delay the planning for redeployment, the less likely it is to be successful.”
Lugar continued, “Our focus on Iraq has diverted us from opportunities to change the world in directions that strengthen our national security. Our struggles in Iraq have placed United States foreign policy on a defensive footing and drawn resources from other national security endeavors, including Afghanistan.”
Lugar expressed skepticism about the surge last winter, but he never officially opposed it. His call for redeployment now is a big move as most Republicans wait for September.
[my emphases]
We can parse Lugar’s rhetoric and note that, pace ABC’s hyperbolic suggestiveness, he is not calling for immediate redeployment — Lugar is careful to say we must begin “planning” for redeployment — but such is the precise kind of rhetorical dodge that Jack Murtha and his supporters relied upon, and they were just as insincere with respect to the qualifications they peppered throughout their justifications as Lugar is here.
In saying that the surge is a bad idea and that we shouldn’t wait until September to beginning plotting our withdrawal, Lugar is simply stating the obvious — that we should have plans in place for any contingency — but in doing so, he is creating the impression that we need to be ready to pullout immediately when the surge, which he now seems to oppose, inevitably fails.
Bottom line? This is precisely the kind of cynical fidelity to electioneering that galls me when someone like Harry Reid attempts it.
And to watch a Republican who has supported the war do it on the heels of White Flag Harry is simply abominable.
Lugar is, of course, free to express his doubts and criticize the Petraeus plan. But now that the plan is underway, he should respect the timeline Congress agreed to give it to work, and not muddy the rhetorical waters by giving the impression that the surge’s impotence is a foregone conclusion.
Calling for a redeployment plans to be drawn up now (again, I’m sure we have such plans, but what Lugar seems to want is a public embrace) is a show of no confidence in Petraeus, the troops, and the iraqi people who need us to remain until they can field security forces capable of defending a fledgling democracy. Pointedly, they have not asked us to “redeploy” immediately — and we’ll soon hear their own take on how they perceive the surge to be working.
For Lugar to try to get out in front of a possible failure — which, ironically, makes that failure more likely — in an effort to bolster the GOP’s position in upcoming elections is simply repugnant, not the least for its subtext that the American people are disinclined to see idealism and proactive efforts to protect the country as virtues, meaning that they will necessarily cast their votes entirely on perceptions fostered by anti-war Democrats and a sympathetic media.
One must, of course, choose one’s battles. But Lugar has based his choice here on a combination of political ambition and fear, and in doing so has joined the ranks of those running to hop on a bandwagon powered almost entirely by misinformation, manufactured perception, and dubious polling.
If, as Lugar asserts,he is truly worried that “our struggles in Iraq have placed United States foreign policy on a defensive footing,” he would be working to change that footing — not by capitulating to the carping of critics but by remaining steadfast in our commitment to the Iraqi people.
Personally, I think our foreign policy will suffer most should we yet again break our promise to a foreign country and “redeploy” — particularly if our reason for doing so is to mitigate the force of the election rhetoric anti-war candidates are capable of marshaling.
But then, I’m a dreamer — and besides, I like to see stuff blowed up!
(h/t CJ Burch)
Comment by Dan Collins on 6/26 @ 9:55 am #
He’s just positioned himself as a total idiot, though. So at least he’s got that going for him.
Comment by Peng Dehuai on 6/26 @ 10:10 am #
Sen Luger like mud turtle in pond — he safer than man on horseback, but turtle never show courage like horseman.
You Americans have weak-willed political dogs as leaders!
Comment by Bender Bending Rodriguez on 6/26 @ 10:12 am #
Wait, a Congressman whose prime concern is the next election? (Monocle drops into martini glass) Well, I never!
Aw, let him whine. It’s not like anyone seriously listens to Congressmen anymore.
Comment by slackjawedyokel on 6/26 @ 10:14 am #
Just when I think that I couldn’t possibly be more disillusioned with the Congress of the United States of America, something like this happens. I haven’t always agreed with Lugar’s positions, but I always thought of him as a man sincere in his beliefs and willing to act on them. Silly me.
Is there ANYONE elected to that august body that wouldn’t sell out his mother for a couple of votes?
Comment by JD on 6/26 @ 10:22 am #
Being a former Lugar voter, this surprises me. It is not like he has had any serious competition in recent years. Losing my vote will not hurt him.
Comment by mojo on 6/26 @ 10:23 am #
Man, this must be some good shit…
Comment by McGehee on 6/26 @ 10:38 am #
Especially Senators. Even more especially Republican Senators.
Comment by timb on 6/26 @ 10:39 am #
As a liberal who has voted for Dick Lugar in every time I have seen his name on the ballot since I turned 18, can I just posit another explanation: “you’re wrong and he doesn’t agree with you.”
Dick Lugar has less to worry about in the upcoming election than any politician in America. First, there’s the galling fact (a little research might have helped) that he JUST won re-election in 2006 and won’t stand for re-election until 2012.
Add the fact that he was unopposed. Get it?!? Dick Lugar doesn’t need to pander to anyone, Jeff, because the only way he leaves DC is in a box or on his retirement tour. Unopposed in a year when Democrats won every almost every contested election in the country. He is wildly popular in Indiana.
What he said was correct, honest, and about freakin’ time. My own e-mails to him have been begging for him to step up for the last 6 years. It’s about time the wisest, smartest guy in the room spoke up.
“Dick Lugar bows to electioneering”…..such tripe has never been seen on the internet tubes.
Comment by Major John on 6/26 @ 10:52 am #
So, Tim, you fancy his calling something that just began a predestined failure as statemanship or just a product of being “the wisest, smartest guy in the room”?
I had not realized The Senator had a time machine, or was a Calvinist.
Comment by Slartibartfast on 6/26 @ 10:58 am #
timmy, where do you live in Indiana?
GPS coordinates down to the meter not required; just wondering what part of the state.
Comment by cranky-d on 6/26 @ 10:59 am #
Something happens to Senators the longer they stay in D.C. They all become opportunists more interested in the process than in any convictions they may have had at one time. Witness the whining from the “right” about the war, about talk radio, what have you. If they were truly part of the Jacksonian tradition (and it’s possible they never were), they wouldn’t be spouting off like they are. However, being political animals who know that money and power follow doing whatever is expedient, they will lead us all over the cliff like lemmings.
Comment by alppuccino on 6/26 @ 11:03 am #
“Something happens to Senators the longer they stay in D.C.”
They go to one of Teddy’s mixers and end up getting an email with pictures of ‘em givin’ Jack Murtha a rusty trombone.
Comment by timb on 6/26 @ 11:12 am #
Slarti, in Indy
MJ, instead of being distracted by clever lawyerin’, why don’t you answer the inherent question: Jeff says he said it for “Reason A”. Reason A demonstrably untrue. Why don’t you tell why he said it? With almost 40 years of solid conservative foreign policy leadership? Ain’t because of politics. Must be because he believes it. And, isn’t that what ticks you off?
Comment by Slartibartfast on 6/26 @ 11:15 am #
Indianoplace, eh? Never spent much time there.
I grew up in Elkhart, which is another kind of no-place.
Comment by Jeff G. on 6/26 @ 11:15 am #
Uh, Timmy? I never said Lugar was pandering for votes for himself.
He is pandering for the GOP, who he feels will not benefit from Iraq strategy being a presidential election topic.
Maybe you should actually READ THE FUCKING POST before you start handing out advice about doing research.
Here’s what I highlighted:
And here’s what I wrote:
GOP’s position; presidential election.
Do try to keep up.
Comment by Pablo on 6/26 @ 11:17 am #
Maybe you should actually READ THE FUCKING POST before you start handing out advice about doing research.
That seems reasonable.
Comment by Jeff G. on 6/26 @ 11:19 am #
Only if you misrepresent Reason A, which, as Lugar HIMSELF notes, is the reason he made the statement.
Is this really what passes for argument in your world?
Comment by Rob Crawford on 6/26 @ 11:19 am #
Or Lugar’s an asshat and likes attract.
Comment by Nanonymous on 6/26 @ 11:22 am #
And just what, exactly, is wrong with dragging that debate into the Presidential campaign? Is someone a little afraid that all of the groundlings are, y’know, going to express a consensus opinion that’s not already received wisdom at the Council on Foreign Relations?
Comment by alppuccino on 6/26 @ 11:24 am #
He runs unopposed so he must be good.
Hey look, there’s only one sandwich on the menu – The Big Shit Sandwich. Sounds delicious!
Comment by Veeshir on 6/26 @ 11:35 am #
I gotta tell you, I actually had a response to timb half-written and then, I realized that I was just wasting my time. Spinning my wheels. Pulling my pud. If someone believes what timb wrote, in 2007, there’s absolutely no chance in hell that anything you say will change his mind.
You could get a video tape of bin Laden, Achmadinerjihad, Kim Jong Il and Assad talking about how they wish the US had never invaded Iraq because their plans were almost to fruition (no, I’m not saying they had plans, bear with me on this) and still people like timb would not reevaluate their position as they have far too much invested, both intellectually and (more importantly) emotionally to allow that.
In 2001 until about 2004 or 2005, I used to think it was imperative to respond to stuff like that for the other people reading, the ones who were trying to make up their minds. Now? Bah. In 2007, anybody who thinks America is weaker when they fight back is not going to change their minds no matter what.
Comment by Slartibartfast on 6/26 @ 11:35 am #
I always thought Lugar was a fairly decent guy. Foreign policy-wise, he’s better than most. In this case, he may simply be wrong, as opposed to all the other names he’s being called.
I think the man deserves the benefit of a doubt, as far as asshattery is concerned.
Comment by timb on 6/26 @ 11:36 am #
Jeff obfuscates. Film at eleven
“One must, of course, choose one’s battles. But Lugar has based his choice here on a combination of political ambition and fear, and in doing so has joined the ranks of those running to hop on a bandwagon powered almost entirely by misinformation, manufactured perception, and dubious polling.”
Gee, after mentioning electioneering in the same sentence a few paragraphs above? You’re right, it is often difficult to make through one of your posts, but I’ve now read this one this one twice and both was left the impression that you are trying to call Lugar on cynicism, when he has no reason to be cynical.
Electioneering? You said it.
Oh, Pablo, nice work.
Comment by alppuccino on 6/26 @ 11:45 am #
“Hey honey, can I get a big plate of those stuffed foreskins – don’t skimp on the smegman – and wipe off some of that perfume before you come back, alright?
Comment by alppuccino on 6/26 @ 11:45 am #
smegman being male foreskin smegma, of course.
Comment by Dan Collins on 6/26 @ 11:48 am #
I am the Smegman. Kookoo katchoo.
Comment by Jeff G. on 6/26 @ 11:52 am #
Timmy — that would be NATIONAL electioneering. As noted in the QUOTED, BOLD PASSAGES, which I used as a referent for your convenience. One can have political ambitions and fear for their PARTY’S PROSPECTS OF HOLDING POWER, Timmy.
But if you feel like holding to your mistake like Michael Moore to a breaded pork chop, have at it, big guy.
Comment by McGehee on 6/26 @ 12:00 pm #
I’ll have a ham on rye, hold the smegmanaise.
Comment by alppuccino on 6/26 @ 12:16 pm #
“I am the Smegman. Kookoo katchoo.”
Gashundtheitd.
Who is the Ballrus?
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 12:24 pm #
Entire speech reveals that he is just a little bitch, as Jeff describes…
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 12:30 pm #
It seems related to this from yesterday…
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 12:32 pm #
Ok, I take back the little bitch thing, there’s enough in the speech to swing me to Slat’s point of view.
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 12:32 pm #
Slart
Comment by ThePolishNizel on 6/26 @ 12:38 pm #
Jeff Goldstein vs. timmah? Is this like Holmes vs. Clooney? Tyson vs. Williams? Surgical scalpel vs. foreskin?
Timmah. Thanks for playing.
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 12:59 pm #
however, is for sure a little bitch, but y’all knew that.
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 1:00 pm #
where did my link go? Voinovich
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 1:03 pm #
hmm – btw, the editing tools aren’t loading at all today… one more try there… Voinovich
Comment by Karl on 6/26 @ 1:40 pm #
First, Lugar has been an Iraq skeptic almost as long as Hegel. Second, echoing a prior post of Jeff’s, Lugar declares the “surge” is not working after less than a week. Third, because the media must serve The Narrative, CQ runs a story headlined “Other GOP Senators Embrace Lugar’s Call for Change of Course in Iraq,” though the story quotes only Sen. Warner, who doesn’t exactly “embrace” Lugar’s “call,” giving instead the Senatorial version of John Travolta in Pulp Fiction: “That’s a bold statement.”
Comment by Fred on 6/26 @ 2:05 pm #
Given Bush’s abject failure to maintain public morale on the war and effectively combat the politically motivated attacks of his leftist opponents, coupled with Congressional capitulation and defeatism, can anyone honestly recommend soldiering as a career choice when the troop’s sacrifice is held so cheaply in DC? Shame.
Comment by JD on 6/26 @ 2:29 pm #
Being a Lugar voter myself, and a potential former Lugar voter, I find this amazing. Generally, he does not rock the boat, and stays out of the partisan bickering. I just think he is wrong on this issue.
Comment by JD on 6/26 @ 2:30 pm #
did this one work ?
Comment by JD on 6/26 @ 2:32 pm #
timb – double the dosage
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 2:43 pm #
You can learn skills and get money for college.
Comment by Mikey NTH on 6/26 @ 2:59 pm #
DC and the political chattering class are not worthy; but the rest of the United States? Yeah, that’s worthy of the troops. They don’t fight for the New York Times, Fox News, or the US Senate. Thaey fight for the United States of America; and unlike much of the chattering class, I think the USA is worthy of the military we have.
Comment by B Moe on 6/26 @ 3:09 pm #
“DC and the political chattering class are not worthy; but the rest of the United States? Yeah, that’s worthy of the troops. They don’t fight for the New York Times, Fox News, or the US Senate. Thaey fight for the United States of America; and unlike much of the chattering class, I think the USA is worthy of the military we have.”
If we don’t do something about that bunch of whores and thieves, we don’t deserve the military.
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 3:13 pm #
Our media are friends, not food.
Comment by Major John on 6/26 @ 3:14 pm #
TIm, this seems a bit of a departure for you. Before the last couple of days, I may have disagreed, but at least you sometimes were being consistent and logical, if wrong. :)
I am afraid that this one is bit rougher to understand – as Jeff has rather bluntly pointed out. I don’t like what Lugar is saying because he is wrong and disingenuous about it to boot. That’s all.
Besides, I live in Illinois. The last time I had faith in ANY politician from my State was the 1980s – from either party.
Comment by McGehee on 6/26 @ 4:06 pm #
How about we revisit that after all the corn and stuff is being used for energy instead of food?
Comment by Major John on 6/26 @ 5:00 pm #
“can anyone honestly recommend soldiering as a career choice when the troop’s sacrifice is held so cheaply in DC?”
Yes.
Something I remember that MacArthur said in his Duty, Honor, Country speech -
“Others will debate the controversial issues, national and international, which divide men’s minds. But serene, calm, aloof, you stand as the Nation’s war guardians, as its lifeguards from the raging tides of international conflict, as its gladiators in the arena of battle. For a century and a half you have defended, guarded and protected its hallowed traditions of liberty and freedom, of right and justice.
Let civilian voices argue the merits or demerits of our processes of government: Whether our strength is being sapped by deficit financing indulged in to long, by federal paternalism grown too mighty, by power groups grown too arrogant, by politics grown too corrupt, by crime grown too rampant, by morals grown too low, by taxes grown too high, by extremists grown too violent; whether our personal liberties are as firm and complete as they should be.
These great national problems are not for your professional participation or military solution. Your guidepost stands out like a tenfold beacon in the night: duty, honor, country.â€Â
If those words mean something special to you, then by all means consider the career choice. You can also join the Guard or Reserves and have the best of both worlds, in my opinion.
Comment by Robin Roberts on 6/26 @ 5:37 pm #
Major John, MacArthur’s words are haunting. Which is ironic for me, since I think of MacArthur as a loon frankly. But that speech is almost redemptive.
Comment by Merovign on 6/26 @ 5:39 pm #
As much as I bemoan the quality of trolls these days, I do love it when they take on Jeff directly – it’s kind of nice in this day and age to see why we call them underdogs.
Comment by shine on 6/26 @ 5:59 pm #
“not the least for its subtext that the American people are disinclined to see idealism and proactive efforts to protect the country as virtues, meaning that they will necessarily cast their votes entirely on perceptions fostered by anti-war Democrats and a sympathetic media.”
You’re really going to have a problem when people see it as idealistic and proactive to be looking for a way to get out of this mess. Thats if they haven’t yet.
Comment by B Moe on 6/26 @ 6:14 pm #
Is English not your first language, shine?
Comment by shine on 6/26 @ 6:21 pm #
“Is English not your first language, shine?”
Whats so tough here? Some people think it is better for the protection of this country to find a way out of Iraq. It’s going to get real rough for stay the course crowd once people decide that is the idealistic and proactive thing to do.
Comment by R30C on 6/26 @ 6:21 pm #
The local grumbling I’ve heard tells me Lugar will not continue to be a senator from the hoosier state after ‘08. Between this topic and his voting record regarding immigration and his age, (look at his smile, he’s awfully long in the tooth (senility?))those I’ve spoken with are talking about voting 3rd party if he insists upon occupying the “R” ticket. We’re no longer impressed with Lugar nor are we impressed with Mitch Daniels, both need to find new occupations that allow decent candidates to fill the position otherwise their party most definitely will experience bigger losses in the future.
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 6:38 pm #
Wow. Reading the whole speech, I gotta say I can’t agree with Slart after all..
He ends his serious-minded call for defeat with…
The terrorists, they had not truly known fear until today.
Comment by Major John on 6/26 @ 6:38 pm #
“idealistic”?
Huh? Skipping out on a people for the second time in 18 years is a example of what ideal? “Screw ‘em”? “Who cares what those furriners think of us anyway”? “America First”?
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 6:40 pm #
Also, NPR had a choice summation of Lugar’s views if you have any questions about the message he sent today.
Comment by B Moe on 6/26 @ 6:44 pm #
Retreat is proactive. Who knew?
Comment by R30C on 6/26 @ 6:51 pm #
Meh We’d also like to see that sign at the TexMex border torn down that says in Spanish that your future lies in Elkhart Indiana. We have enough people picking tomatoes, melons, and pumpkins and we have machines for harvesting corn, wheat and soy beans.
Comment by McGehee on 6/26 @ 7:55 pm #
You mean ‘12, right?
Comment by Toby Petzold on 6/26 @ 8:08 pm #
Did anybody see Dana Bash and Anderson Cooper on CNN last night trying to spin Lugar’s speech like it was Lincoln’s Second Fucking Inaugural? I don’t know why I can’t stop myself, but I just have to expose myself to the propaganda sometimes to remember how completely I despise it.
Comment by Great Mencken's Ghost on 6/26 @ 8:16 pm #
Yes, we must plan.
Let’s make sure we’ve got the soldier with the heaviest boots trained up to kick the fingers of the refugees trying to get on the last helicopter.
Let’s remember that Senator Lugar was right there with John Kerry when they abandoned the Filipina election workers…
Comment by Major John on 6/26 @ 8:17 pm #
Toby, You are a better man than I am for that.
Once I found I could go to so many primary sources for news on the Net – I stopped watching TV news almost altogether.
Comment by happyfeet on 6/26 @ 9:14 pm #
I cancelled my tv. Complaining about media bias while giving 1100 bucks a year to Time Warner did not seem very unhypocritical, so I stopped. Now I have no more subscriptions left to cancel and I feel impotent.
Comment by timb on 6/27 @ 9:35 am #
Wouldn’t put much stock in the right wing ramblings of you and your friends, R30C. He ran unopposed in the primary and the general. He stays as long as he wants to.
Major John, does that apply to every country? If, by accident of birth, I grew up in Iran, is it honorable for me to serve in their military?
Comment by R30C on 6/28 @ 5:17 pm #
Timb, you dumbass, atleast try to base your views on reality. Lugar was opposed by Steve Osborne, a Libertarian, during his last election. Don’t ever converse with me unless you have facts, you fucking retard. My apologies to retards that enjoy sex for comparing them to Timb.
Comment by ymsshmjbeg on 7/3 @ 8:01 am #
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! kqswehaatzjx
Trackback by Kimberly Smith on 7/16 @ 3:07 pm #
Kimberly Smith…
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read….
Trackback by Electric Jon Boats on 8/5 @ 2:48 pm #
Electric Jon Boats…
Made from high strength, high density Ram-XX for the strongest possible jon boat. From th…