GOP to support Iraq withdrawal plan — in 16 months

September 28, 2007

When it comes to shaping U.S. policy in Iraq, there are two principal camps — those who want to stay the course (Bush and the vast majority of congressional Republicans) and those who want to change the mission and start bringing the troops home (the vast majority of congressional Dems and most Americans).

I’d heard rumors that some Republicans — most notably, the ones who are worried about re-election next year — were working on finding a third option. Apparently, they’ve thought way outside the box and come up with something.

A small group of Republicans facing election fights next year have rallied around war legislation they think could unite the GOP: call for an end to U.S. combat in Iraq, but wait until President Bush is out of office. […]

The proposal, by Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, would require that Bush change the mission of U.S. troops from combat to primarily support roles, such as training Iraqi security forces and protecting U.S. infrastructure in Iraq. His legislation would set a goal of completing such a mission transition within 15 months.

If enacted immediately, that timeline would not kick in until Bush’s last couple weeks in office.

Co-sponsors of the bill include Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina and Norm Coleman of Minnesota. Of the sponsors, only Voinovich is not up for re-election in 2008.

And people wonder why it’s so difficult to take Republicans seriously on foreign policy matters.

First, as David Kurtz explained, these guys are looking for an easy way out.

GOPers up for re-election have come up with what they think may be a way to thread the Iraq needle: call now for a withdrawal of U.S. troops — but don’t begin the withdrawal until after President Bush leaves office. Brilliant!

Those trying to weasel on the issue are Sens. George Voinovich (R-OH), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), and Norm Coleman (R-MN), all of whom are up for re-election in 2008 except for Voinovich.

Second, as Atrios noted, this bizarre model seems to be based, not on conditions on the ground or U.S. national security interests, but entirely on domestic elections.

Apparently Republicans want to set one of those evil timelines we keep hearing about, and have it be based on the US election calendar….

But they’re moderate and serious!

There are still two main options on Iraq — Bush’s and everyone else’s. Voinovich, Alexander, Dole, and Coleman may not want to admit it, but until they’re ready to break party ranks, they’re with Bush.

And the bill is called “The Republicans are Weaseley, Self-Serving Bastards Who are Afraid of George Bush and Dick Cheney but Want to Pin a Withdrawal from Iraq on the Incoming Democratic Administration to Help them Win an Election Act of 2007.”

Just once I’dlike to see Republican exceed my expectations for doing something good rather than vastly exceed expectations for being fourth-rate petty politicos.

  • This is like some old saw about the ne’er-do-well suitor continually putting off the well-to-do damsel. Do voters really not mind that much or is it just that there’s not much way to communicate outrage?

  • This is proof positive that, to the conservative mind, the war in Iraq is no longer about “freedom.” And, man, didn’t they cram THAT down our throats in 2004! The reality is, now it’s a war about votes.

  • Well… that option completely undermines the “stab in the back”. But hey, if they want to wait until after the major beating they take in November to jump on a bipartisan withdrawal that provides Dems cover, go ahead.

  • Wow, I must say even a seasoned cynic like I am is stunned at how transparent this is. They didn’t even try to disguise the purely political move they are making. This falls into the category of “lets see just how badly we can insult the voting public without any consequences” experiments.

  • “This falls into the category of “lets see just how badly we can insult the voting public without any consequences” experiments.”

    wanna take bets as to how many voters they are successful in fooling zeitgeist? my guess is most republicans won’t have a clue as to what they are trying to pull.

  • just bill, i wouldn’t take that bet unless you give me a lot of points. the public’s ability to swallow Rethug BS has disappointed me far too many times.

  • Classic Norm Coleman. . .this way he can say he “stood the course” or “brought the troops home,” depending on who he is talking to and which way the wind is blowing.

  • No no no!
    Now the terrorists will just wait us out for 16 months!
    If the violence ends in the next few months, we need to stay there for another couple years to make sure they’re not just lying low, okay?

    Promise me you’ll stay if things settle down, okay George?
    Don’t leave if Iraq is peaceful for less than two years. Got me?

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