November 8, 2007
Posted: November 8th, 2007 05:05 PM ET

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell insisted Thursday that the Iraq war is "winding down," one of the most positive statements yet by a congressional leader.

It comes as Democrats are launching another attempt at pulling combat troops out of Iraq. In response, McConnell told CNN Radio that Democrats are making a mistake.

"The war is winding down. Next year's election is going to be about this Congress and what it failed to do," McConnell said in his Capitol office.

The Kentucky senator pointed to recent newspaper reports of lower death tolls and insisted there will be "fewer and fewer troops in Iraq, fewer and fewer casualties, more and more ... return to normalcy."

He spoke to a handful of reporters on the same day House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a proposal to temporarily fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and set the goal of pulling U.S. combat troops out of Iraq in a year.

A similar bill passed Congress in May but was vetoed and killed. The latest effort could meet a similar fate as Democrats show no sign that they have gained the votes to override the president's block.

Republicans are salivating over the chance to make Democrats appear obsessed with a single topic.

"I think it's bad politics," McConnell said. " His thoughts echo points raised by other Republicans in and out of Congress as they launch a counteroffensive. But McConnell's assessment that the war is "winding down" was among the most positive.

At the same time, Democrats insist the war is a continued disaster.

"This is not working, it's a war without end," said Pelosi. "There is no light at the end of the tunnel. We must reverse it."

– CNN Radio's Lisa Desjardins

Filed under: Iraq • Mitch McConnell


MIKE ADKINS,CHARLOTTE,NC   November 10th, 2007 4:53 am ET

democrats don't want us to lose in iraq, there's nothing to win. there has never been anything to win. this nut job says the war is winding down. then why does the bobble head in the whithouse need 200 billion dollars and no timetable for withdrawl? what an ignorant comment McConnell made. maybe he needs to go there and see for himself. there won't be any glorius victory in iraq and democracy won't last long. when it finally ends, bush will look stupid when one of the radical clerics moves in.

GeorgeK, LA CA   November 9th, 2007 10:25 pm ET

It may be winding down Mitch but unfortunately the darn thing still looks like an energizer bunny to me!

DJ , SC   November 9th, 2007 8:26 pm ET

I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT 200%. It's REALLY sad to see so....many American people with a bad memory. I mean let's look back to 2001 and almost everyone was IN FAVOR of taking the battle to the middle east and keeping it off our land (USA). Sure bring everyone home like most want and WE WILL BE LOOKING AT WORLD WAR III and you can take that to the bank. If we stick our head in the sand and don't do anything or pay attention to what's going on in the terrorist countries they ALL WILL ACHIEVE NUKE ABILITY and have the means to launch nuke rockets at us WITHOUT EVER setting foot on our land. ***I GUESS THIS IS WHAT EVERYONE WANTS*** The terrorist are waiting to see if the American people are stupid enough to pull out of the middle east and let them have there way with us.

Rick, Chicago Illinois   November 9th, 2007 7:53 pm ET

Jake, IA,

"Democrats want us to fail so badly in Iraq. Unbelievable! Keep speaking Pelosi, each comment sounds more anti-american than the previous."

Hey Jake ... the repubs have had EVERYTHING THEY'VE ASKED FOR to win this war thrown at their feet, and we're STILL over there in Iraq and Afghanistan ... fighting two wars vs third-world countries with 1/1000th the military might we have ... OVER 5 YEARS LATER!

Rather than waste time complaining that the FACTS as Dubya and Co. have made them are "anti-american", just admit that all the big, TOUGH, patriotic chest-thumping you 26-percenters have done for the past 5 years has accomplished NOTHING.

FACT: We're STILL there – cuz we HAVEN'T won!

Sarah, Kansas City, MO   November 9th, 2007 3:28 pm ET

Once the'surge' ends next spring the war will erupt anew. The insurgents/terrorists are laying low.

You really have to wonder about the level of intelligence of the people of Kentucky to keep sending this prissy, idiot back to the senate every time he comes up for re-election.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   November 9th, 2007 10:38 am ET

This administration is way off track. Now they are waging the success of this war based on fewer U.S. soldier deaths? What about the argument of success being determined by democracy in Iraq. Bring our soldiers home.

Bubba, Swainsboro GA   November 9th, 2007 10:18 am ET

Nice to see Republicans admitting the Democrats have been right all along. He's lying about the war winding down, of course, but at least he knows what America wants to hear.

Jake, IA   November 9th, 2007 10:11 am ET

Democrats refuse to acknowledge any success in Iraq. It is clear they want us to lose. Unbelievable.

roger, conway sc   November 9th, 2007 9:52 am ET

McConnell has spoken...I am sure that he is speaking with knowledge from his military badkground...what a wack job

Sue in Michigan   November 9th, 2007 8:00 am ET

Is this guy living on Mars? The war is "winding down" but we would be making a mistake to pull troops. And if the election is about Congress, bye bye more Republicans, who until this week could not even find enough humanity to override one Bush veto. I'm hoping that Congress is growing some b...s, and that the last year of Bush's Presidency is filled with more overrides. It is the only way to return to the Constitution-he will not pass any legislation, obviously, that HE determines is not what he wants, and continues to thumb his nose at Americans and the world.

Glenn,Birmingham,Al   November 9th, 2007 7:43 am ET

This seems to be true, It hurts the ones who wanted to rush out. It doesn't mean the middle east problem is solved, but it does help not having so much negative media attention on the U.S.! Until all of us in America stop using so much energy & change our life styles. Dependence on the oil will force out leaders to engage in wars & strong arm tactics over there.

AJ; Montpelier, VT   November 9th, 2007 7:43 am ET

Who would believe anything that comes out of McConnell's mouth? He's a kook that needs to be locked away before he harms himself.

JB Boston MA   November 9th, 2007 7:15 am ET

Not one comment!

This is good news people, regardless of what side of the aisle you are on.

Let's hope he is right!

MIKE ADKINS,CHARLOTTE,NC   November 9th, 2007 6:29 am ET

this is another example of what's wrong with congress. parttsan lines. 72% of the republicans approve of bush simply because he's republican and no other reason. 70 % of all american people (democrats, republicans and independents) disapprove. my money is on the american people and not the fat stuff shirt republican politicians. another reason to vote them out next year.

corb, Seattle WA   November 9th, 2007 4:05 am ET

Is there a single person on Earth who would buy that line? He may as well dust off the old "Mission Accomplished" sign.

Hey, if its winding down why don't we cut the soldiers pay again. They won't be needing it!

Steve, Portland, OR   November 9th, 2007 2:48 am ET

Yeah right. Wasn't this last month a month for Islamic holidays. Lets see those numbers decrease in the next few monthe before elections and I expect you'll get some political capital. If not, well it's about time we citizens cleaned House and Senate of both parties. Electing more independants that care more about their constituents as well as our soldiers and our mostly forgotten veterans.

Christian, Tampa FL   November 9th, 2007 1:12 am ET

Winding down? Okay, let's bring the troops home, then. NOW.

Sharon, Littleton, CO   November 8th, 2007 11:31 pm ET

I wish Mitch would retire. He's certainly out-of-touch with reality.

Jake, IA   November 8th, 2007 9:48 pm ET

Democrats want us to fail so badly in Iraq. Unbelievable! Keep speaking Pelosi, each comment sounds more anti-american than the previous.

"This is not working, it's a war without end," said Pelosi. "There is no light at the end of the tunnel. We must reverse it."

D. Endo, Honolulu HI   November 8th, 2007 9:26 pm ET

Mitch McConnell is a moron.

pierce, philadelphia pa   November 8th, 2007 9:16 pm ET

the republican party is destroying this country to make the rich richer. their famed morality involves only the worship of mammon. what a contemptible group of hypocrites. open your eyes america.

Jeff, Burlington VT   November 8th, 2007 8:23 pm ET

Winding down from what? Wasn't Mission Accomplished already declared a few years ago?

a.thomas, ny, ny   November 8th, 2007 8:11 pm ET

It is naieve to say that the war in iraq is winding down because

a) there are million of people being displaced in iraq; and

b) the american soldiers have given weapons to the sunnis to drive out the al-qaeda terrorists, and the sunnis with arms will be a big civil war problem to the current shiites. administration.

Hank, Fort Myers, Fl   November 8th, 2007 8:00 pm ET

This is a hoot–and must be very slow news day indeed for this deadwood headline of this Senator's assessment of the situation in Iraq. Thank you sir...I feel so much more reassured thanks to your indepth assessment.
As a Senator...he gets regular security briefings from the White House. These are classified status reports with up-to-the-minute analyusis of the situation on the ground in Iraq-Yet to define that the "war is winding down" he must use a newspaper article to support his view. Another class example of how ignorant the Republicans think Americans are. All he had to do was carry his lazy butt to the front door and pick a newspaper–and CNN qouted him!!! God what a mess we are in.

Rita - Indianapolis, IN   November 8th, 2007 7:51 pm ET

I understand now. When people take something out of context, it changes the picture. I have had this done to me, something was taken completely out of context and made into a lie in a Civil Rights case and I was being charged for $7,120 of 10 months loss of tenant income that I never made this owner lose. Many more lies came from all of this also. This was a total surprise to me as I am a handicap person and do not harass or call anyone all night long especially when I did not know their phone number.
Usually police are called when someone is being harassed, no police came to my door = one red flag.

Ivan, Chicago, Illinois   November 8th, 2007 7:09 pm ET

What's happening in Iraq is just the lull before the storm in Iraq. And since Bush and you Republicans own the War in Iraq, you will pay the price of it's success or it's failure, at the ballot box. And right now success is not a good bet.

Tom Z, FL   November 8th, 2007 7:07 pm ET

The Democrats are blinded by their own hunger for power. A look at what's actually going on in Iraq and Afghanistan shows that The Democrats are are only trying to appease their Moveon.org base, not reality.

john , St.Louis   November 8th, 2007 7:07 pm ET

Hasn't this year had the highest American death toll?
Yeah, its winding down, the insurgency must be in it's last throes again , and we're still being greeted as liberators.

Ben, Santa Cruz, CA   November 8th, 2007 7:05 pm ET

Apparently senator McConnell failed to read the CNN article a few days ago about how 2007 has seen the most American casualties in Iraq yet. At what point does right-wing "spin" become utter insanity? Where does this guy get his info, a "think"-tank funded by Haliburton?

J. Lee, San Diego, CA   November 8th, 2007 7:05 pm ET

Here we go again... I remember in the past there were talks about the "last throes" of insurgency, etc... Until US troops are on their way out of Iraq, I think it's a little premature to say that the "war is winding down." Republicans seem to have this problem with counting their chickens before they hatch with regards to the war in Iraq...

Bill, Streamwood, IL   November 8th, 2007 6:58 pm ET

Lemme guess, the war in Iraq will finally end and we'll declare victory about a week before next year's elections?

Bob, Seattle   November 8th, 2007 6:54 pm ET

Senator McConnell's words are like a toxin to a weed for the Dems. Watch them squeal as their cries become irrelevant.

Alice Newman Center Harbor NH   November 8th, 2007 6:49 pm ET

I can't remember but isn't what the leadership said about the Vietnam war as it continued on for several more years?

Tell this to those who have family still fighting over there ... tell them when their soldiers are coming home!

Evie, TS Florida   November 8th, 2007 6:32 pm ET

Why is moderation taking so long?


"I think it's bad politics," McConnell said. " His thoughts echo points raised by other Republicans in and out of Congress as they launch a counteroffensive. But McConnell's assessment that the war is "winding down" was among the most positive.

At the same time, Democrats insist the war is a continued disaster.

"This is not working, it's a war without end," said Pelosi. "There is no light at the end of the tunnel. We must reverse it."

I think it is time we begin to LISTEN to reason.

This article points us in the direction to put on a blind fold and pray we "hanging chad" the right one.

Ron Paul ... we need to hear more of what he has DONE.

F-O-C-U-S

brandi laurinda, ny   November 8th, 2007 6:30 pm ET

i'm glad the war is winging down- now if we can only elect a real preseidnt who knows about what real americans want and need, wee'll be in better shape in 08 and beyond

Pete, T.S. FL   November 8th, 2007 6:28 pm ET

Winding down? Meaning what? A month, a year, a decade what? Stay the course?

Brian, Orlando, Florida   November 8th, 2007 6:24 pm ET

More lies from a Bush ally.

Gorbashov   November 8th, 2007 6:20 pm ET

It's winding down????? What SPIN!!!

2 million, mostly middle class, have fled the country. Over another 2 million are internally displaced due to ethic cleansing. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi's dead and wounded.

NO POLITICAL RECONCILIATION IN SIGHT!

Yeah, "winding down"!

How does anyone take these Republic Party Spin Doctors seriously?

Sarah, Kansas City, MO   November 8th, 2007 6:16 pm ET

Sure the republicans would love to change the subject on the war. How about the economy and our enormous deficit and debt Sen. McConnell? The republicans have once again led us into serious economic trouble.

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