Sen. Alexander’s Doublespeak: Wants ‘New Strategy’ In Iraq, Continues To Support ‘Surge’
Sen. Alexander’s Doublespeak: Wants ‘New Strategy’ In Iraq, Continues To Support ‘Surge’
Last week, the Los Angeles Times reported that Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) was one of many conservatives breaking ranks with Bush’s Iraq policy.
“It should be clear to the president that there needs to be a new strategy,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. “Our policy in Iraq is drifting.”
This morning on CNN, Alexander undercut his own stated desire to change course. While announcing his support for an amendment that would adopt the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, Alexander said, “The surge can be within this larger strategy of the Iraq Study Group.”
Watch it:
Alexander appears more interested in maintaining the surge than in embracing a “new strategy.” The bill Alexander supports does not set a deadline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Moreover, the Iraq Study Group report specifically argued against sending more troops to Iraq:
Sustained increases in U.S. troop levels would not solve the fundamental cause of violence in Iraq, which is the absence of national reconciliation. A senior American general told us that adding U.S. troops might temporarily help limit violence in a highly localized area. However, past experience indicates that the violence would simply rekindle as soon as U.S. forces are moved to another area. As another American general told us, if the Iraqi government does not make political progress, “all the troops in the world will not provide security.”
Alexander’s right that our Iraq policy is “drifting.” But his rhetorical tap-dance will do little to correct it.
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44 Responses to “Sen. Alexander’s Doublespeak: Wants ‘New Strategy’ In Iraq, Continues To Support ‘Surge’”
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Sen Alexander feels strongly both ways.
**eyes rolling**
July 10th, 2007 at 11:11 amOff topic - google youtube moore blitzer
About time to call a spade a spade.
I was born and lived in a communist country in the 1980’s, and at least the people there and then knew that the media was lying to them.
Americans listen to PAID PROPAGANDISTS, paid by the think tanks, which are organizations that exist to “sell” frauds as heroes, thieves as virtuous patriotic politicians, and saudi terrorists as friends of the USA. They are paid by out tax $$$ by the way.
REAL news is just like local news, somebody who reads from the teleprompter and tells you whats going on, with reporters going to the affected place and talking to people and filming there, on location.
Thats how it used to be in the USA and how it is in ALL OTHER COUNTRIES. But now in USA “news” is several idiots talking, inane bla bla bla, like O’Reilly, Olberman, Glenn Beck, hey, lets invite a paid shill paid by the HMO companies to discuss Moore’s new movie?
July 10th, 2007 at 11:11 amDid they ? Well why didn’t you quote them saying that instead of what you have quoted ?
Are you just lazy or do you really not understand what you read ?
July 10th, 2007 at 11:12 amI think it was Huffington who first said it, but it’s worth repeating. Our Iraq policy is not “drifting.” Instead it has swerved way off course, hit an iceberg and is already underwater and continuing to sink. Anyone who uses the word “drifting” has no idea what it really going on.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:14 amAlexander: “The surge can be within this larger strategy of the Iraq Study Group.â€
That’s like saying: “C’mon baby, having sex with me can be within this larger strategy of keeping your virginity.”
July 10th, 2007 at 11:19 am“Thats how it used to be in the USA and how it is in ALL OTHER COUNTRIES. But now in USA “news†is several idiots talking, inane bla bla bla, like O’Reilly, Olberman, Glenn Beck, hey, lets invite a paid shill paid by the HMO companies to discuss Moore’s new movie?”
I am surprised to see you include Olbermann in your group of inane bla bla bla…. Have you ever even watched Countdown? Have you ever heard any of Keith Olbermann’s “Edward R. Murrow” messages? If you have watched him and heard his messages and you consider Keith to be inane, I wonder who or what you would consider to be not inane.
But, I do agree with your assessment of Wolf Blitzer’s setting up Michael Moore with a paid shill. It really didn’t matter, though, because Moore incinerated Blitzer.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:19 ami simply cannot believe that we are wasting our time once again with a big national discussion about how bad things are going in iraq and whether or not we should stay or go… the bush administration has demonstrated in countless ways that they have no intention of going, now or ever… yet, we still all get sucked up in talking about it, thinking they will somehow magically change their minds, glomming on to every repub that emits the faintest odor or dissent… forget it people… ain’t gonna happen…
And, yes, I DO take it personally
July 10th, 2007 at 11:20 amI suspect that when he first made his statement about Iraq, the one that was not in line with the Bush Crime Family, they called him to the White House and reminded him of his dirty laundry that would be aired if he continued to oppose Bush. I’m sure that is how they keep the Lemming Republics in line, either they are blackmailing them or they are bribing them. Either way, Bush will be responsible for their losing their jobs come November 2008.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:21 am#3,
I don’t remember exactly what the ISG said, but I, too, thought that they would go along with a surge accompanied by their other suggestions they made. I do remember interviews of the ISG members saying that they should take their study as a whole - not as an a la carte buffet of choices. Instead, Bush saw the surge and did it independent of many of the other things - which was argued against by the ISG members.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:21 amLet’s find out what “favors” Karl is pulling in, like the Don his funeral parlor director, to force these up-for-election boys to play ball. How can they collectively think that pullng their message together - when it is so at odds with the truth - is better for them, much less America? Only their incredibly shrinking base, with its bottomless ability to tolerate hypocrisy, could digest this offal without regurgitating it all over the dining table.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:21 amAnother Repugnicant Senator trying to have it both ways.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:23 amDoesn’t matter what you say, anywhoo Sen Assh@.
Matters how you vote on withdrawal. Even Tennesseeans aren’t that stupid.
Wants ‘New Strategy’ In Iraq, Continues To Support ‘Surge’….
Translation….I know I’m wrong, you know I’m wrong, everyone else know I’m wrong, but guess what !! I’m not going to say it aloud.
typical political crap…
July 10th, 2007 at 11:26 amIt must hurt to sit on a fence this long.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:27 amHe wants a new strategy, but it’s a new strategery that he will get.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:29 am“It should be clear to the president that there needs to be a new strategy,†said Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. “Our policy in Iraq is drifting.â€
Drifting? You mean like, “Out to sea”?
No wait, it’s like being up sh*t creek w/o a paddle?
July 10th, 2007 at 11:29 amKilo,
From the ISG report:
Because of the importance of Iraq to our regional security goals and to our ongoing fight against al Qaeda, we considered proposals to make a substantial increase (100,000 to 200,000) in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq. We rejected this course because we do not believe that the needed levels are available for a sustained deployment. Further, adding more American troops could conceivably worsen those aspects of the security problem that are fed by the view that the U.S. presence is intended to be a long-term “occupation.†We could, however, support a shortterm redeployment or surge of American combat forces to stabilize Baghdad, or to speed up the training and equipping mission, if the U.S. commander in Iraq determines that such steps would be effective.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:32 amVirtually all of of today’s Republican House and Senate members are hypocritical, unethical, corrupt, ineffectual, obstructionist pieces of shit.
Nov 2008 cannot come soon enough….
July 10th, 2007 at 11:37 am“Are you just lazy or do you really not understand what you read ?”
Comment by Kilo — July 10, 2007 @ 11:12 am
It took me about two minutes to find this ISG quote. It would seem TP isn’t the only lazy one, Kilo.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:37 amI wonder why politicians think that we’re as stupid as they are.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:37 amPerhaps Lamar does want it both ways and is placing too much priority on his base….a base which may not be enough to sustain through his next campaign….so, if I were Lamar, I’d be extremely cautious about presenting any form of “doublespeak”. You know what happens when you attempt to appease two opposite sides of a debate - YOU LOSE!
July 10th, 2007 at 11:37 amI think it’s safe to call for a “clean sweep” of EVERY Republican incumbent in 08. Regardless of their wishy-washy attempts to represent the majority of americans, they still fail us miserably. Let’s begin a grass roots movement now to “unseat all incumbent republicans in 08″. It’s the only ’safe’ thing we can do now.
Appropriately, there may be and probably are a few Dems who share the penchant for deceit, fraud, and criminal activity. These Dems need to be “outed” as well and “unseated in 08″.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:39 amKilo:
You’re needed back down on the “Six-month anniversary of the escalation in Iraq” thread.
Alert the Megaphone operatives…too much truth revealed there.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:39 amBesides, most americans at this point will concur the the Republican Party today is nothing but a “party of corruption” and will patently reject them at the polls.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:40 amIs this really a surprise? They tried saying that the “surge” was a new strategy also.
Reality?
Reality is simply word games. Want to go down but everyone is screaming go up? Then point down and say, “This IS up!” … there now we are going up…
July 10th, 2007 at 11:46 amThere is something about a name that sticks to a person. His has Lame in it.
July 10th, 2007 at 11:55 amMuch like geico, you can save “moron” your car insurance
Not sure you’ve understood the premise here.
TP stated that the ISG argued against the surge.
I said why didn’t they post that then.
You have posted an excerpt from the ISG which says they could support the surge.
You realise the rule is that you’re never supposed to disagree with TP right ? Even when they’re clearly being misleading for partisan political purposes.
Posting this is enough to qualify you as a troll around here.
Quick, say you’ve been impersonated and flee.
July 10th, 2007 at 12:01 pmI’ll take lazy over stupid any day of the week.
Honesty, there’s shooting yourself in the foot, then there’s shooting yourself in the foot and gloating about it.
July 10th, 2007 at 12:04 pmWay to go there hopalong.
Lamar will continue to take the attack to the Islamists. Tennesseans don’t surrender.
July 10th, 2007 at 12:57 pmCNN . . . FOX . . . same thing.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:05 pmI am betting rover threatened to release this scumbag’s number from the DC Madam’s frequent fliers list or Darth showed him his loaded shotgun!
July 10th, 2007 at 1:25 pmWhen will the traitor Dems defund the war so the real war can begin?
July 10th, 2007 at 1:37 pmSen. Alexander has always been goofy, so ignore his stupid rants.
July 10th, 2007 at 1:50 pm590 U.S. soldiers have died and 3,575 have been wounded in Iraq since January 10, 2007. [icasualties.org, 1/10/07-7/9/07]
DO SOMETHING….CALL CONGRESS…202-244-3121… TELL THEM TIME TO IMPEACH…. THE BUSH CRIME FAMILY HAS TO GO… TELL THEM THE PEOPLE ARE COMING….
July 10th, 2007 at 2:10 pmDoes anyone think the Iraq Study Groups findings would still apply? I can’t imagine those ideas would still work, we seem to have fallen off that cliff long ago.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:13 pmHe just got the talking points for the day, saw Tony Snow spin them on camera today and has them down pat now.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:47 pmDouble-speak.
Hi Marie! Good to see you and great update on the Snowjob.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:48 pmSnowjob’s new “rap” isn’t going to fly at all. They’ve got a huge amount of inteference to run with all of the Rethugs turning against them. This doubletalk routine is only going to be laughed at - again!
July 10th, 2007 at 2:49 pmVietVet: Thanks for the number - I’m circulating it now and the calls will begin. Ring them off the hook so they realize that it’s the people who call the shots in this country and who pay their salaries. Let’s get real here.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:50 pmAnother flip-flop. Nice.
July 10th, 2007 at 4:22 pmCaught in a riptide… Sin Alexander frantically struggles to remove the Albatross from around his neck, as he D R I F T S under … the surging … ……
July 10th, 2007 at 4:31 pmWhich ideas would these be ?
July 10th, 2007 at 8:50 pmThe ideas the ISG expressed or the ones that TP just lied about them expressing ?
“Honesty, there’s shooting yourself in the foot, then there’s shooting yourself in the foot and gloating about it.
Way to go there hopalong.”
Comment by Kilo
Let’s see now, the thread is about Alexander’s support for a bill that doesn’t set a timeline for withdrawl - in effect, a bill that makes the surge more than temporary.
From the ISG report:
“We could, however, support a shortterm redeployment or surge of American combat forces to stabilize Baghdad, or to speed up the training and equipping mission, if the U.S. commander in Iraq determines that such steps would be effective.”
Short term, Bunky. TP is saying that Alexander supports a bill that has no timeline for withdrawl; meaning it isn’t what the ISG suggests.
[Quote from the report]: “Sustained increases in U.S. troop levels would not solve the fundamental cause of violence in Iraq, which is the absence of national reconciliation.”
Sustained increases, Bunky.
Kilo: “Did they ? Well why didn’t you quote them saying that instead of what you have quoted ?”
The essence of the relevant ISG quote (which I just reposted) confirms what TP has asserted. It would appear I missed my foot, but that you’ve been shooting your mouth off with nothing to back it up.
July 10th, 2007 at 10:29 pmAlexander needs to go back and read this report. Changing course means changing strategy which he doesn’t seem eager to do. The ISG didn’t advocate a surge. It suggested a draw down of US troops. The ISG came out against any kind of troop increase. Any new strategy that could be implemented can’t and shouldn’t include an increase of troops. Rather it should include a date to get all combat forces out of Iraq. The ISG acknowledged that this is a civil war, and recommended that an increased US presence in Iraq would make matters worse not better.
That is exactly what has happened. How long are our troops expected to search and hold each neighborhood they clear? Sooner or later they will have to leave. Our presence is fueling this civil war because our presence is used as a recruiting tool by the insurgents who see us as occupiers and invaders. There are more terrorists there today than there were before we invaded Iraq. We are less safe because of it.
July 11th, 2007 at 2:28 amYeah, that’ll be why you didn’t want to quote what TP stated the ISG report said.
So basically, it confirms what TP said it does if you forget what TP said and you pretend 8 months is an extended escalation so that what is written becomes the opposite of what is written.
Well I’m convinced.
Yet my original question remains. If you actually believed that’s what the report said and this was a direct confirmation of your assessment, you wouldn’t quote something else instead.
So you’re on your own there buddy. Not even TP is intellectually dishonest enough to pretend they believe what you do. Heh.
July 11th, 2007 at 7:33 am