Yesterday, the Democrats in the Senate followed their brethren in the House, like lemmings into the sea. They decided that cutting the legs out from under our military in Iraq is preferable to victory in Iraq. Many of these cowards are the same Democrats that voted overwhelmingly to authorize the use of military force in Iraq. [I can hear the cries of "Bush lied us into war!" from my liberal friends. Stop whining ... we both know that's not true.]
My take? The Democrats have used the war as a bludgeon, and the Republicans have been their victims. Of course it's not going as well as we would like. Of course there are lives lost, it's a war afterall. But shouldn't we be proud that we're willing to take a hard road to spread and share freedom and liberty? Should we stand back and allow tyranical dictators to have free reign while committing genocide?
Back to the main point: the Democrats used the war as a way to beat down Republicans, and to win back the House and Senate. Their rhetorical excess undoubtedly HAS emboldened our enemies, and undoubtedly HAS resulted in more death and despair. It worked beyond their wildest dreams, as they now enjoy majorities in both houses of Congress. But now they realize that the Iraq war will be the millstone around THEIR necks after the 2008 elections if they don't act to end it first. [What? You think the August 2008 deadline is just coincidentally 3 months before the general election? ]
So, to hell with the US military; to hell with the brave Iraqis that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us fighting for their freedom; and to hell with our nation's reputation as the pre-eminent defender of freedom and liberty around the globe. These are all subordinate to the Democrats' raw lust for power.
So the funding bill comes out, laden with more than a modicum of pork, and with strings attached that will cripple our military efforts. This isn't a military funding bill ... it's the first draft of our surrender treaty with Al Qaeda!
There was a time when the Senate was thoughtful, deliberative, even sage. It's sad to see it in its current state of Democratic leadership. These leaders at one time might have looked forward to an epitaph that read "Conscience of the Senate". One should now read: "Shrinking Violet & Political Hack".
President Bush vowed to veto the bill. I pray that he does.
