CNN

After Sadaam tried to assassinate Bush Sr in Kuwait (~1991), Sr should have had him taken out. He owed that to the soldiers who were hurt and killed during that war, and maybe we would not be there now. That said, it's now time for Iraq to stand-up or be cut-off by year's end.

If we are going to continue paying for this WAR – Bring our troops home. If we are going to get paid for our services, I see the benifit. We are in a lose – lose situation.

Finally wake up to realize the situation? It is irresponsible to keep supporting a bad (and they knew it!) policy for so long.

This is not a right or a left issue, this is an American issue. We can't decide it by saying who supports the troops more. The military does what it is told to do. It is not about the troops it is about the will of the American voter. It will take all of us to end this, the “greatest mistake in our brief history”.

"Another good reason why Congress has an approval rating lower than the Commander-in-Chief.
Posted By Tom Z, Deltona, FL : June 26, 2007 6:53 pm"

Hah!! I think you atribute the wrong thing to the falling popularity of the Dem-led Congress. They were popular because there was a popular hope and expectation that they would help bring this war to an end. When they BOWED to the President and the Republicans and provided continued funding...that's when you saw the popularity of Congress fall hard.

You have it backwards Tom, COngress lost its ratings BECAUSE they didn't do more to end the Iraqi occupation.

One more thing. Our polled opinions are mostly formed from what we hear, read and see in the media. The media is the true winner in all this. They can shape, twist and turn (i.e. sensationalize) events, and opinions, to make stories. Be careful what you pay attention or lend credit to when forming your opinions.

What fickle Americans we are. Looking at the historical polls, a majority of us favored the actions that put us in Iraq at that time, in essence, telling our leaders what we wanted done. Now we have the gull, through latter polls, to play partisan politics by second guessing and armchair Monday morning quarterbacking these leaders thus exasperating the debates in our legislature. The task at hand is not the fast food order we spoiled Americans have come to expect. Leadership is difficult and often unpopular, especially in a democracy. How dare we be so fickle. What message does this send to the rest of the world. Shame on us all!

Ah, the end is in sight. The sane GOP senators are trying to salvage their reputations and political careers before it is too late. Those who want to go down with Bush will not be reelected.

What will happen now is more and more Republicans will jump on the withdrawl platform.

It's a good gesture, but hopefully the public is wise enough to understand these clowns care more about their party standing and reelections than the multitude of people who have died becau9se of party loyalties.

So much for patriotism...

I have a lot of respect for Sen. Lugar. I can't stand the thought of a full withdrawl, but I tire of the attitude reflected by a previous poster. The concept that as long as we have troops on the ground in Iraq, we can't entertain any thoughts of re-deployment without admitting defeat. THat's nonsense. We "win" in Iraq by achieving long-term stability in the region. Perhaps fewer troops now would help us toward that goal. More troops have been added, and I hear is "Wait.. wait... it's coming... year six of the war will be the turning point... don't have a failure of will... wait..."

The war in Iraq has become unwinnable if in fact it has not been from its inception. At some point we will have to withdraw anyway, why spend more lives before we reach that point of decision. I am glad Voinovich, Lugar, and other Republicans have finally seen the light.

These senior Republicans are acknowledging reality. Corrective steps can only be taken once reality is accepted. The military presence in Iraq is a mistake and 'more of the same' just delays making the hard decision to withdraw from a combat role. Time to start fresh.

How about YOU go doc? My kids have had enough! Two tours as Guard reservists when they signed on to protect their own country was a dirty trick. The military has been badly misused.

But I guess it looks easy from where you sit. Finally Voinovich got the message that most of his constituents want this lie to end.

The Iraqi people and their government want us to leave by the end of 2007. They have asked but CNN fails to report this.

Bush, of course, continues to deny reality, just like he did his drinking problem for 20 years. Only now it isn't just his family who gets the abuse-and military families are daily paying the price. The ONLY ones in this country...don't tell me about troop morale, they know this war is not our place too.

Maybe we should stop questioning a patriot of this country asking where this war is going. An question the people that advocate the war, but are to coward to serve in the war.

Wonder what changed their minds? It couldn't be the latest Iraq War popularity poll now could it? I mean this couldn’t be a political maneuver could it? Surely members of our Senate wouldn't be that transparent now would they? Politicizing a war, come on, that can not happen in America. Not HERE! It’s such a complete about face that it’s obvious that these two wouldn't have said this if they didn't think it would play well with
potential voters.

This is very poor timing on Sen. Lugar's part. At least wait until Sept. The surge is showing progress. If he is trying to convince Iraqi politicians that time is running out, then that's a different matter. But if that's the case, then he should have spoken directly to them behind closed doors.

Now if Bush all of a sudden cared more about popularity polls than the ability of the Iraqi people to sustain their own government and freedom, we might see some immediate changes, but going by his latest quote about it all, I don’t think that’s going to happen. “No act of the terrorists will change our purpose, or weaken our resolve, or alter their fate.” – George W. Bush. Attack and lambaste me all ya’ll want, I know it makes you feel so much better when you’ve got somebody to attack but, I still think A President who doesn't bend to the will of the uninformed is a desirable leader.

Cowardly. Where were you before the lies and the war senator? This military action should not have started but should of ended on the day Hussein was hanged.

Yeah, we should listen to the real foreign policy experts like Frederick Kagan and Douglas Feith, Paul Wolfewitz and Dick Cheney......great job guys.
Finally, the grown ups arrive.

Thank you Dick Lugar.

In response to the email that suggested that telling the troops that they have failed in the middle of the war. I do not believe that that is the intention to look at it as failure but to be more realistic about the achievment that they have already achieved. It will not be productive to loose more lives for a government that should be looking at ways to deal with their own developments.

Wonder what changed their minds? It couldn't be the latest Iraq War popularity poll now could it? I mean this couldn’t be a political maneuver could it? Surely members of our Senate wouldn't be that transparent now would they? Politicizing a war, come on, that can not happen in America. Not HERE! It’s such a complete about face that it’s obvious that these two wouldn't have said this if they didn't think it would play well with
potential voters.

This is very poor timing on Sen. Lugar's part. At least wait until Sept. The surge is showing progress. If he is trying to convince Iraqi politicians that time is running out, then that's a different matter. But if that's the case, then he should have spoken directly to them behind closed doors.

Now if Bush all of a sudden cared more about popularity polls than the ability of the Iraqi people to sustain their own government and freedom, we might see some immediate changes, but going by his latest quote about it all, I don’t think that’s going to happen. “No act of the terrorists will change our purpose, or weaken our resolve, or alter their fate.” – George W. Bush. Attack and lambaste me all ya’ll want, I know it makes you feel so much better when you’ve got somebody to attack but, I still think A President who doesn't bend to the will of the uninformed is a desirable leader.

I am reminded of "Rats jumping off a sinking ship" - NOW the GOP has decided it's election time and they have been following an evil, decadent, incompetent team–the old Jedi mind trick is melting–and it's time to scream–FOWL!!! You discharged and silenced the naysayers from the beginning; Colin Powell states on Meet the Press to close GITMO; veterans and countries have begged you to STOP this!! Still you marched on into the depths of depair and indifference!! When the people spoke in November, your leader told us it was HIS government-so –when this war is referred to as "the baby" it defies logic, you stupid politicians! Comparing death, destruction, refugees, and chaos to "a baby to leave to the next president" buys no sympathy votes...you are ALL hopeless and the eyes of the world are watching as America crumbles under unprecedented DEBT and rampant hatred with NO friends...that heat will be felt by all of us very, very soon...WAKE UP!!!!

This is about admitting to a failed policy. From what I've seen in the underground media especially (since corporate media is still promoting the prowar agenda) the folks on the ground in Iraq mostly want OUT, back to family, friends, and a chance to heal from what they've had done to them, what they've seen, and what they've done while under orders.

No more surges or attacks of any kind. Most of our military personnel know that this "war" is political in nature but being true Americans, and devoted to our Constitution, are there fighting for that reason alone. I would like to see them all come home at the same time, destroy the equipment and all ammunitation left behind and let the religious war bring itself to a close.

They should tar and feather both Bush and Cheney and ride them out of town on a rail. Where do we get such idiots.

Dont blame the Senators, doc75 of Fairfax, Va, blame Bush. If you've been following the war, if this is what you want to call it, it is Bush who has us (the USA), where we are right now, in Iraq. Yes, these two Senators, in the past, have backed Bush's inept leadership in respeats to Iraq, and any place else we'er at in the Middle East, in concerns to 9/11. As A Muslim There is a no win solution for America in Iraq. The reason, for me, is simple. Iraq is by all definitions, an Islamic country, whose people follow Islam, and which are groverned by Islam, meaning the Qur'an and The Sunnah of Prophet Muhammed(PBUH), or at least it's supposed to be groverned by these two islamic criterion. One paramount reason the USA will not prevail in Iraq, that reason being Iraq is stuck in sectarianism. Prphet Muhammed (PBUH) has stated in Hadith, which are the sayings of the Prophet (PBUH), that "...this nation...", meaning the Islamic Ummah, which Iraq is a part of, "...will be divided into...sects-All in Hell, except one, and that one is: the one on which I and my Companions are...", which is Islam and the Sunnah (teachings), of The Prophet (PBUH). The second raeson is because Muslims are kiling each other, which is forbidden in Islam. In The Qur'an Allah (SWT) commands that a Muslim's life to another Muslim is scared, or words to that effect. As a Muslim and knowing these things it my reasoning that America is in a no win situation in respeats to Iraq. It's leaders are to steeped in sectarianism and tribalism. Each wanting power over the Iraq and its peoples. It's never going to happen unless a true Islamic leader, who follows Qur'an and Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) emerges, who says I'm neither Sunni, Shia, or with this tribe or that tribe. It's not going to happen, because there is no such man in Iraq who is true to the teachings of Islam and Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). so, as to the two Senators who no longer back Bush's solgan of "staying the course" in Iraq, I say good luck. Bush is too hard headed to heed the advise of mere senators...he's the president of United States. Did he follow the advise of those who said the USA should not go to Iraq...NO! So, dont blame these senators because they want to break-away from Bush's unrealistic mind-set on Iraq.

This adminstration thinks they are above the law and the will of the people does not matter to them. They need to stop sending our brave solders into a war thats not our war to fight. This is a war for the iraqis to win for themself if they want a truly representative government.

We HAVE failed. We're an alleged superpower but we're unable to secure a single Mideast city after years of our troop's efforts? The Iraq occupation is an embarrassment and should end immediately, with all U.S. resources there rededicated to protecting Americans here at home.

Doc75,

Can our troops make the Iraqi government take leadership of their own country? Can our troops make Iraqis trust each other after decades of sectarian oppression and violence? Our troops have completed every mission, and have defeated every enemy they have engaged, but the fundamental premise of going into war was so flawed that each time they risk their lives, nothing improves politically in that country towards a lasting stability. Comments like those from Senator Lugar are frequently taken as insults to our troops, but are instead frank acknowledgement that the Iraqi government that our troops are busting hump and dying for is proving itself to have no will to govern and no ability to make their sacrifices worthwhile.

What Lugar sees is true – Petraeus' strategy might have been effective early in the process (before the Iraqi government calcified into warring camps), but now further increases our casualty rates while the Iraqi government goes on vacation. He can anticipate 3-4 months of growing GOP surge-sponsored US deaths while the Iraqi political front remains a stalemate that squanders their sacrifice.

Please try to understand that those of us who want the US out of Iraq actually do support our troops, and do believe completely in their ability to win any battle. We just believe that the administration is incapable of solving the political quagmire in Iraq, and is spending US lives without cementing their victory.

So, friend, do you believe it is better to to allow them to die first instead of working OUR tails off to prevent that occurance which comes as a result of a deadly failed policy?Good job Voinovich and Lugar, you've finally realized what needs to be done, Keep it up...

Using the foil of "our troops are in harm's way", administration flacks have derided any effort to question Iraq policy; now Lugar has given cover to those who dare to question King George.
The best thing that can be done for troops in harm's way is to get them out of there

Yes President Bush has put our country in the middle of the Middle East Problems from some time now, but we must stay the course other wise the lives that were already lost would have been for nothing, If I were there, I would stay and fight, not for Iraq not for the People of Iraq, but the brave men and women who fought with everything they had to make our world safe again. I would stay in their honor!

Anyone of you can run if you don't agree.
God Bless America and Our people in Iraq.

I commend you on your political courage in joining with those already calling for an end to this misguided debacle. More would join you if they weren't pandering to their base. However, your idea of a slow withdrawl would have devastating results for our troops. Only if the Iraq Forces were ready to assume control would our troops be safe in that type of withdrawl. It isn't going to happen. Iraq will futher devolve into chaos and further destablize the entire region, there's nothing we can do about that. President Bush has opened this "Pandora's Box", as though he were a child playing with a toy, just to see what was in there. Well now we know. The only solution always has been and remains to pull our troops out of there as quickly as we can put them on planes and pull them out. I know it may be more polically safe to keep issue unresolved, however, for my money, your polical career, the President's polical legacy and the combined politial future of the whole of Congress isn't worth a life of a single American man or woman and we continue. I've had enough. Haven't you?

Republicans are the true flip-floppers. The mess into which Iraq has slid was completely foreseeable and had been predicted by numerous experts already before the war started. Nonetheless, ignorant GOP adherents have felt arrogant enough to ridicule opponents to the war with impunity for the past years and to label them as "unpatriotic." Only now that the situation has turned more dire than ever and that it has become politically opportune even for Republicans to distance themselves from Bush, these politicians (and the Republican voters) "suddenly" change their publicly expressed views (see the poll results reported by CNN today). Why did they not speak out long ago against this terribly misguided, dishonest, and immoral war that the Bush Administration is responsible for?

These two senators just came out and said something that anybody with common sense already know, that the war in Iraq is a disaster, is no longer winnable, and it's time to draft a exit plan. The administration has failed to plan to win the war, now they must plan to end the war.

Our troops have been "working their tails off," fighting, killing and dying that is, for over four years now. Maybe you missed the point...? Are you suggesting we "admit" our operations aren't working later after more people are dead?

Yep, senator, get them out of there before more die for a cause that 2/3 of america disagrees with. We need to support our troops by bringing them home, and providing them with adequate health care.

The Iraq war is costing lives for American soldiers and Iraqi civilians. They have their freedom after the so called "war is over" after the defeat of Saddam. He is now dead and his other government ministers. There are many options like transferring the peace restoration to UN peacekeepers and Iraqi governement or form a multi etnic government. Iraq is rich in oil and use its revenues to help Iraqis themselves and not for terrorist. The withdrawal of American soldiers is not a defeat , only giving back the sovereignty and independence to Iraqis so they can live in peace and freedom.Mr. Bush , please consider the options. Military option is not always solution to bring peace .

Let our troops do the job. Presently they are defending themselves. Let them attack – bomb every section of Iraq to ashes where they are attacked. Once the people of Iraq recognize that we mean business they will stop supporting insurgents and other enemies of the US. I recognize there will be deaths of civilians but that always happens during a conflict. Did not thosands of Japanese die during the war when we bombed Hisoshima and Nagasaki? It sure ended the war. We should go on the offensive against sections of Iraq that are not friendly to us. Give them a warning and then folow with it. In the final analysis there will be less US and Iraqi casualties and our troops will come back home sooner.

OK doc ... let's just keep paying AMERICAN lives into a yet ANOTHER failed policy decision and babysit Iraqis with MORE blank checks rather than TELL THE TRUTH. Be patriotic ... pretend everything's OK. Be Patriotic ... LIE! Be patriotic ... substitute blind allegiance for critical thinking and common sense! How dare people on the ground here the truth about their commander in chief's stubborn idiocy!

finally a rupublican who can see that using the unemployed young men of the generation as canon fodder should not continue....

The lives of our troops and their familes are precious and invaluable. The Iraqi government has not, is not and might never be able to function. These Republican Senators finally have stood up and spoke the truth. George Bush has used his best judgement and created this situation. It is sad.

pretending that talk of withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq is some how disparaging to the troops is ludicrous.

our armed forces are doing their best in a horribly planned police action.

bringing them home is the greatest show of support for them possibly.

They have not failed. The senators have not said that. The *policy* is failing. How about, we understand they are working their tails off, and we are not going to leave them hanging. How about, we recognize and respect the difficulty of the situation, and want to work to improve it. Tell me, what good does your sarcasm do? and, Why can't people recognize the difference between the troops themselves and the administration responsible for the policy that put them over there? There can be disagreement with one and *not* the other.

It must be those liberal democrats or the liberal media conspriarcy at CNN again! Who knew now Republicans are calling for troop withdraws.

doc75 of Fairfax misses the mark the same way so many others do. The troops are a means to an end, specifically pursuit of U.S. foreign policy. When honest debate is shouted down as disloyalty to the troops, they become the end and foreign policy the means. While I understand that this angle has become an accepted part of our national conversation on Iraq, I continue to believe it has no merit. On the off chance that I'm the one who has it backward, however, I will also note that I recall having heard none of the the loyalty-to-the-troops discussion prior to the decision to invade Iraq.

I can't believe that so many people don't get it...no one is blaming the troops. They have performed amazingly...I know. I was there. What people are saying is the people who are making the policy and telling the troops what to do are making the mistakes. Those who think otherwise are incredibly short-sighted. If you threw 100 troops at an enemy of 1000 troops, would you blame the soldiers you sent in when they are defeated? No, you would blame the idiot who sent them in. Wake up.

Come on....staying is failing. Allowing more and more people to die is failing. Spending billions more dollars is failing. Facing reality and being able to try something different now that's what I call smart. When you do something that's not working the best thing to do is to try something different until you find something that does.

Politicians should not concern themselves with the feelings of the troops when making foreign policy decisions. Our troops will deal with whatever decisions are made–that's what they do. What we need now is objectivity and rationality. It finally seems that some Republicans (and Democrats) are realizing this.

The senators comments are long overdue. COngratulations for standing up to a failed policy and a failed President. If the Republicans have any chance in 2008, now is the time to make the much needed break.

I am proud of my senator (Senator Voinovich) for his courageous stance. When will my president see the light?

It takes a stronger man to change his mind and to learn from his mistakes than to be stubborn in the face of failure. Congratulations on not being as arrogant as the president who believes that being 'right'is more important than the lives of our troops.

After so much effort misguided it is difficult to change. But the fatal flaw of the US is to where blinders as to the actual situations faced by other peoples and cultures. We listen to ex-pats, who make poor informants, as they made the decision they could not live with and understand to status in their homelands, that is the reason they leave. The Image of Sadam trying to control rabid raging pit bulls certainly seems to fit well, to bad we can't get him back.

The "surge" is not succeeding, we're indiscriminatedly droping 500 LB bombs over civilian neighborhoods with the excuse that "reliable sources and intell" say we should.(Probably the same sources and intell that got us in this mess to begin with).Does Vietnam ring the bell?? Anybody..?? And everybody sits on their behinds waiting to see when public opinion finally turns against this so called war, while young american kids continue to get killed daily. The "polls" shouldn't ask who still supports the occupation and who doesn't, instead they should ask "how many more lives will it take" to finally get the courage to say .."ENOUGH". They should take a poll and ask "how many will want to see Mr. Bush wearing again the uniform he wore during the carrier-landing joke, and head to the front lines to get a taste of the mess that has his signature". Bet the numbers would be HUGE. That american patience is running thin...because the Iraquis are not doing enough..?? At this stage I doubt anybody can do enough to fix the mess created by the unilateral and arbitrary US occupation and invasion, with the naive and cowboy believe that going in to the heart of the Islamic world...and transplanting democracy with an army would be a walk on the beach. Close to 3600 american lives have been lost while walking on that sand...pursuing a mad and illconceived policy. It's time to wake up....accept that we screwed up...show some humility and perhaps we'll be able to get the help that we urgently need to repair the damage.

our military might is not failing. these brave men and women are doing everything they possibly can to show that democracy and freedom are worth dying for. unfortunately, the iraqi people have never known democracy or freedom and are not sure that they want to change the way things have been done for hundreds and hundreds of years. if we want to change the political ideology there , we must change the religious ideology and that, my friend, isnt going to happen. i have to lay the blame at our administrations feet and remind them that acting impulsively is never a good thing. our soldiers are dying because we were to quick to jump into a war that should never have been. now we are stuck. i agree that we need to pull out but not because our soldiers are failing us but because our government already did.

This turnaround doesn't accuse the troops of failure in execution, but identifies the leadership's failure in strategy. It says "You guys on the ground have aced every job assigned to you, but we think your boss is assigning you the wrong jobs." The men and women on the ground have put their lives on the line; they deserve to know that people who care are holding boss accountable. They deserve that all their tasks be crucial to the country they love, that no task be trivial or a waste of heroes' blood.

The increase in opposition on the GOP side can be at least mildly attributed to GOP Presidential Candidate Ron Paul's reasoned arguments against the war from a conservative point of view.

Once again, a muddled thought process has concluded that the senators are insulting our troops and their effort. That is not the case. The troops are working their tails off and have been since the first shots were fired. But they were placed in a terrible situation by an unthinking administration that has never thought out its actions and decisions any further than, "Hey this will be quick and make me look tough and we can always throw more money and people at it". But the effort was lacking leadership at the top and when it started falling apart, the leaders pointed at the media as though they were the cause. But the media didn't run the war. This inept administration is responsible. That is what the people are realizing now and its about four years too late.

Amen, it is about time. More republicans must follow suit. The messy situations in both Iraq and the USA are no longer political situations. They are conditions, which beg for pragmatic common sense and intuitive foresight. It is time to try a different method, Mr. President. You may be the "decider," but WE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, must pay for your decisions-both financially and in loss of our beloved Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen. As for those who suggest that candid discussion of the inept leadership dragging this "Iraq Action" along, I say simply sit down and have conversations with those on active duty. Their sentiments are most apt to match those of their fellow Americans.

Semper Fi

doc75,

Your assesment reaks of anti-troop paranoia. Everyone supports the troops, they have not failed. What has failed is the policy of a mental midget President.

Are you implying that our troops have been sitting on their tail for the past 5 years ? Troops do as their told, it would be more fair to say that policy is the fundamental problem. Our troops would love to come home if given that individual choice.
david

finally they start to feel the heat and see the light. the first comment of course with the absurd reasoning that to question the war policy is to hate the troops. as a vet I say quit breaking my precious Army. this draft dodging president and his puppetmaster Cheney should send their own kids to do this war if it is that good an idea.

It is long past time we seek our long-term goals in the middle east by sound political strategies rather than military occupation. It has never worked for more than the short term, as evidenced in Iran and Afghanistan over decades, and in the end inevitably accomplishes the opposite of our goals, which are security and economic stability.

Dick Lugar and George Voinavitch... can Laura and Barney be too far behind?

Hi Doc,

What are you doing here? Should you not be in Baghdad fighting evil so that our illustrious President can show his dad how a real man leads?

Senator Voinovich should be lauded for taking a courageous stand. The purpose here is to seek a political solution and that will put an end to the killing of American troups. We have given enough – and our leaders have had more than enough time to make this work. There is a real issue of competency here – and the hopefully the words of Lugar and Voinovich will open up the type of thoughtful discussion – that will set us on a path towards a political solution. This is not our war to fight – and our very presence only makes the situation worse.

Thank you Senator for finally waking up!
As a veteran of Viet Nam I researched that war and Archimedes Paddi, Head of OSS in Asia states, Politicians who had not a clue as to what was happening in Asia put America in harms way. Now a similar bunch of politicians who don't have a clue as to why extreme Islam fights us. They don't have a clue as to what self-serving politicians and Presidents did to make this part of the world hate us. Bush is persona-non-grata in most parts of the world unless he is strongly protected by military and other security. He is a pariah. Those who would disparage those who oppose this war ought to start the study and research to find out why America is involved in the Middle East.
Don't give me that c&$p that its because of terrorism. Terrorism has increased dramatically while bush is in power! Look at the results of American foreign policy in Cuba before Castro, Look at American foreign policy toward Chili before the assassination of Allende. Look at foreign policy that concerns itself with American multinational corporations rather than countries or their citizens. Bolivia kicked out Bectal because it was going to develop a water system that would cost poor citizens money they didn't have and enrich Bectal's pockets.
Only 30% of Americans support this war and only 28% support Bush as of today. If one is continuing to be injured by a machine it would seem prudent to get away from the machine. This administration continues to blunder, mismanage, violate the Constitution, protect unqualified members of his staff and many other mistakes. When are Americans, through their representitives, going to say ENOUGH and impeach and convict both Chaney and Bush!

"Call for a change of Iraq policy", didn't this issue already arise in Washington?

The one policy Democrats had to return our brave men and woman home, was shut/voted down by the Republicans.

As a vet I agree with Lugar. The present administration has failed since day 1 to realize what is really going on over there. They were told BEFORE going over what to expect. They disregarded this 411 and now come up with the "plan of the day" as support fails. The Bush Kakistocracy is an embarassment.

Another good reason why Congress has an approval rating lower than the Commander-in-Chief.

To doc75 in Fairfax, VA. You're misguided comments about telling troops they have failed in the midst of an operation are only political rhetoric that doesn't unjustify the overall premise of what these senators are saying. Yes, individual operations can see success but the overall condition of the country and the current situation cannot be helped by the military. You are the one doing harm to the troops by misleading them. By the way, although the operation you mentioned is targetting incoming insurgents, most of the destruction that occurs in Iraq today is the result of a home-grown sectarian civil war. You also fail to realize that no one credible, from either party, who serves in congress wants a full troop withdrawal and that they all support the mission of combatting incoming terrorists and other al-Qaeda terrorists who have already arrived in the country.

The tribal wisdoms of the Dakota Indians says that 'when you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount'.

Yep, Senator, let's just admit that our current operations aren't working during the middle of Operation Arrowhead Ripper. Right when our troops are working their tails off to defeat the insurgents, you tell them that they have failed. Good work Voinovich and Lugar. Keep it up.