Lindsey Graham Sets 90 Day Deadline For Iraq
Lindsey Graham Sets 90 Day Deadline For Iraq
In February, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) warned against setting any kind of deadline for Iraq. Appearing on Fox News Sunday, he said, “I cannot guarantee you success, but I can promise you this: The day you set timelines and deadlines, it’s lost in Iraq.”
Nine months later, Graham is setting a timetable for Iraq:
Graham told Time Wednesday that the Iraqi leaders have 90 days to start resolving their political differences with real legislative agreements or face a change in strategy by the U.S. “If they can’t do it in 90 days,” he said, “it means the major players don’t want to.” [...]
Graham, who is up for re-election in 2008, said he will not wait forever. “If they can’t pull it together in the next 90 days,” he said, “I don’t think they are ever gonna do it.” He followed that prediction with a promise: “If they don’t deliver in 90 days, I will openly say the chances for political reconciliation are remote.” [...]
“If they can’t do it by the end of the year,” he said, “how do you justify a continued presence?”
Graham’s bark doesn’t seem to have any bite, however. His stern words of warning to the Iraqi government are not accompanied by any repercussions. Time reports Graham “would not elaborate on what kind of plan he would push if the Iraqis fail to meet the deadline.”
For months, Graham has been busy spinning and defending the “surge.” In April, on a trip to Iraq, he famously quipped about the “progress” being witnessed in Iraq: “We went to the market and were just really warmly welcomed. I bought five rugs for five bucks.” Just last month, he said we’re “kicking ass” in Iraq. Now all of sudden, Graham — who is up for re-election in ‘08 — is in a state of desperation over the lack of progress.
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Here’s the important part of the article (emphasis mine):
Sorry, Lindsey. Our memories aren’t as short as you would like to hope.
October 1st, 2007 at 8:11 pmLooks like Lindsay is taking a “wide” stance on this issue!
October 1st, 2007 at 8:12 pmbut lindsey, where will you buy your rugs then?
October 1st, 2007 at 8:14 pmAw hell, why not a Friedman Unit? Live a little, Lindsey.
October 1st, 2007 at 8:15 pmAny bets the situation will be worse off in three months’ time? He knows it’s failing, and wants to go on record before it all falls apart. If the voters of SC are stupid enough to vote for him again, they’ll be even more in the political minority than they are now.
October 1st, 2007 at 8:20 pmthey’re worse then heroin addicts. “just give me 90 more days and I’ll quit. I promise. I know I’ve got a problem. I’m trying”
October 1st, 2007 at 8:22 pm“I’m not a terrorist! I’m a sick mom! I need help!” yelled the mother of three after she missed the 2:58 p.m. US Airways Express flight to Tucson, said airport workers who witnessed the confrontation Friday.
If you’re not ready to fight, I am! Goddamm you Reid and Pelosi!
October 1st, 2007 at 8:27 pmThree months for Bush and the Iraqi government to find the pony? What could possibly go wrong?
October 1st, 2007 at 8:28 pm“Though i could not link.”
Comment by Vendetta
Deteriorating synapses?
October 1st, 2007 at 8:33 pmwhat a pissant. how do republicans stand themselves or each other?
October 1st, 2007 at 8:35 pm.
Deteriorating synapses?
Comment by Nevar — October 1, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
Definitely. ;)
October 1st, 2007 at 8:39 pmGraham told Time Wednesday that the Iraqi leaders have 90 days…
excuse me…
WHO IS HE TO DICTATE THE POLICY???!!!!!!!???????
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON??????!!!
?
ok… now back to reading the thread…
October 1st, 2007 at 8:49 pm…
Huckleberry Hound is blowing wind again. He’s worse the Spector on follow-through. Pffffft.
October 1st, 2007 at 8:49 pmDeteriorating synapses?
Comment by Nevar — October 1, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
What you never had in the first place can’t deteriorate…
October 1st, 2007 at 8:51 pmIndeed, why does Lindsay Graham hate the troops so?
October 1st, 2007 at 8:52 pmHave you noticed that he blames the Iraqis…!!
October 1st, 2007 at 8:53 pm“If they can’t do it by the end of the year,†he said, “how do you justify a continued presence?â€
BY THE END OF THREE YEARS AGO!!!!!
not to mention the “BLAME THE IRAQIS” meme…
aaarrgh.!!!
October 1st, 2007 at 8:54 pmIf a “mother of three” can be mistreated this way in today’s America, that’s not the country I want to live in. I’m leaving.
October 1st, 2007 at 8:57 pmHmmmm…..the Senate just gave Bush $150 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the AP:
October 1st, 2007 at 8:59 pm“While the Senate policy bill authorizes the money to be spent, it does not guarantee it; Bush will have to wait until Congress passes a separate appropriations bill before war funds are transferred to military coffers.
“I think that’s where you’re going to see the next dogfight,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., of the upcoming war spending bill.”
If they can’t do it in 90 days,†he said, “it means the major players don’t want to.†[…]
Uh, it’s been about four and a half years, dummy.
They don’t, won’t, and you can’t make them with a threat of 90 days…
These assclowns just don’t get it.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:09 pmMust be fun to be a politician. Not.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:17 pmLindsey walking around in camos witha gun. That’s some funny sh!t.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:20 pmI think we should brand Article 1, Section 8 on some congressional ass.
Section 8. The Congress shall have power to …
To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;
To provide and maintain a navy;
To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces;
DO YOUR FACKING JOB!!!
October 1st, 2007 at 9:32 pmGraham is one of those people who is so blatantly smarmy that everything he does is extremely irritating.
His middle name must be Goober or Gomer.
October 1st, 2007 at 9:43 pmBut but but B B Bbbolton said the regime change worked!!
October 1st, 2007 at 10:20 pmSen. Prissy Graham is supposed to be outed by BlogActive.com as secretly Gay. It is time for the cheap rug buyer Lindsey to be revealed as closeted hypocrite.
October 1st, 2007 at 10:33 pmThe Bush presidency has caused the scum to rise to the top where everyone can see that it is just scum. Lindsey Graham has stuck to his principle of supporting Bush at all cost and now the cost to him will be defeat in 2008.
See ya you bastard.
October 1st, 2007 at 10:40 pmLindsey … cheap rugs can’r buy you re-election …
October 1st, 2007 at 10:52 pmIn the MSNBC news section today, they were lauding the reduction in violence in Iraq.
Lest we forget, here’s the roll call for the first ten days of Sept, per the Iraq body count site:
IBC page Latest incidents added Date
k7409 Two by roadside bomb in Yousifiyah 10 Sep 2007
October 1st, 2007 at 11:00 pmk7408 Ten bodies found tortured and shot in Baghdad 10 Sep 2007
k7407 Finance controller of Basra shot dead, body burnt, north Basra 10 Sep 2007
k7406 2 truck drivers and car mechanic by US forces, south Tikrit 10 Sep 2007
k7405 Two women by US troops, Watban Street, west Samarra 10 Sep 2007
k7404 Four in family shot dead in Al-Intisar, southeast Mosul 9 Sep 2007
k7403 Four by suicide car bomb in Saqlawiya, west of Baghdad 9 Sep 2007
k7402 Bodies of twelve men found shot dead in Baghdad 9 Sep 2007
k7401 Seven police shot dead in Hajaj near Baiji 9 Sep 2007
k7400 One suicide car bomb attack on army checkpoint in Mahmoudiya 9 Sep 2007
k7399 Four from family shot dead in Daquq, south of Kirkuk 8 Sep 2007
k7398 Bodies of eleven men found shot dead in Baghdad 8 Sep 2007
k7397 Bodies of 2 Kurdish men found tortured and shot, Cheman, north of Kirkuk 8 Sep 2007
k7396 4-5 by bomb in bag or thrown grenade, central Kufa 8 Sep 2007
k7395 Four shot dead in two incidents in Baquba area 8 Sep 2007
k7394 Two brothers by mortar shell on house, Baladiyat, east Baghdad 8 Sep 2007
k7393 14-15 by suicide car bomb near police station in Sadr City 8 Sep 2007
k7386 Schoolmaster, a merchant and former army member shot dead in Al-Zab, near Kirkuk 7 Sep 2007
k7385 Tribal affairs director with al-Sadr’s office shot dead in Najaf 7 Sep 2007
k7384 Eight bodies found tortured and shot in Baghdad 7 Sep 2007
k7383 1 – 2 by car bomb between Bashir and Taza, south of Kirkuk 7 Sep 2007
k7382 Municipal council member shot dead in Suleiman Beck 7 Sep 2007
k7392 2 bodyguards of military intelligence commander by roadside bomb in Basra 6 Sep 2007
k7391 One by roadside bomb, Zafaraniya, Baghdad 6 Sep 2007
k7390 14-19 by US airstrike on suspected militant cell, Al-Washash, Baghdad 6 Sep 2007
k7389 Twelve bodies found shot dead in Baghdad 6 Sep 2007
k7388 2-3 by car bomb near petrol station, central Tikrit 6 Sep 2007
k7387 Three Sunni worshippers shot dead at mosque in Kirkuk 6 Sep 2007
k7381 Fifteen by bomb in bus station, Al-Hamza Square, Habibiya, Baghdad 5 Sep 2007
k7379 Eleven bodies found tortured, shot in Baghdad 5 Sep 2007
k7378 Policeman by suicide truck bomb at mosque, al-Wehda, Mosul 5 Sep 2007
k7380 Member of Democratic Party of Kurdistan shot dead in Mosul 4 Sep 2007
k7377 Two shot dead in Arab Shouka, al-Khalis 4 Sep 2007
k7376 Policeman shot dead, Lazakh, near Shirqat 4 Sep 2007
k7375 Man shot dead in industrial area of Hawija 4 Sep 2007
k7374 One by roadside bomb, Zayuna, east Baghdad 4 Sep 2007
k7373 Assistant police chief shot dead by sniper in Kufa 3 Sep 2007
k7372 Eight electricity workers kidnapped and shot dead, Waziriya, Baghdad 3 Sep 2007
k7371 Television cameraman shot dead in Mosul 3 Sep 2007
k7370 Fifteen bodies found shot dead in Baghdad 3 Sep 2007
k7369 One by car bomb, Zaafaraniya, Baghdad 3 Sep 2007
k7368 Two by car bomb, Alawi, central Baghdad 3 Sep 2007
k7367 Two police by suicide car bomb at checkpoint near Ramadi 3 Sep 2007
k7366 Thirteen bodies found tortured and shot in Baghdad 2 Sep 2007
k7365 Nine by car bomb, Aden Square, Kadhimiya, Baghdad 2 Sep 2007
k7364 Policeman shot dead in Falahiya, east Kut 2 Sep 2007
k7363 Policeman in drive-by shooting near Maqam, near Riyadh 2 Sep 2007
k7362 One by suicide truck bomb at army checkpoint, Taji 2 Sep 2007
k7361 Six bodies found tortured and shot in Wassit 2 Sep 2007
k7360 Three bodies found shot dead in Diwaniya 2 Sep 2007
IBC page Latest incidents added Date
k7359 Fifteen bodies found tortured and shot in Baghdad 1 Sep 2007
k7358 Contractor working with US forces shot dead, Al-Hourah, Kut 1 Sep 2007
k7357 Woman by unexploded cluster bomb near Mosul 1 Sep 2007
k7356 One by bomb near bus in Iskandariya 1 Sep 2007
k7355 One by mortar round on house, Zayuna, east Baghdad 1 Sep 2007
k7354 Four in random shooting, Shaab, north Baghdad 1 Sep 2007
k7353 Body of judicial council member found shot, west Mosul 1 Sep 2007
k7353 Body of judicial council member found shot, west Mosul 1 Sep 2007
Comment by RUCerious — October 1, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
But… but… the numbers are better! The NUMBERS, man, the NUMBERS!!!
October 1st, 2007 at 11:17 pmComment by RUCerious — October 1, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
We’re being played for fools, right?
October 1st, 2007 at 11:45 pmHalf a freidman unit? Why not go for the full thing?
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:06 amPerhaps Lindsey is talking about regime change.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:13 amI’ll believe it when I see it. Graham is like Specter, all talk and no do. The Republicans need to get on the stick soon because a recent poll shows that the public sides with the Democrats on all issues including terror. And the poll also shows that the public is not changing their mind on Iraq. They are not buying what Bush has to sell.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:14 am“the public is not changing their mind on Iraq. They are not buying what Bush has to sell.”
Yikes. Wait ’til Preznit finds out. Looks like that martial law thing be just around the corner.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:40 amForget Graham, particularly in November.
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:00 amAnother half-Friedman for Graham–and then he’ll start to talk about maybe thinking we’d better look into finding a way to somehow tell the Iraqis that they should start to think about laying groundwork with the intent of planning to convene a session to come up with some potential steps that would possibly lead them to forging a new direction towards hopefully getting their act together in three to six months. Or we’re going to start thinking about the possibility of convening a fact-finding mission with the intent of forming an exploratory committee with the stated goal of determining if we might remove some troops starting in some future time. Repeat as needed.
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:51 amOctober 2nd, 2007 at 8:41 am
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:42 am
Seems our Republican Pres. Eisenhower would be considered a “left-tard”. He also expanded social security.
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:43 amOctober 2nd, 2007 at 8:44 am
What if our leaders cared more for our country than their wealth and power?
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:52 am
This world of ours… must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Comment by DanCaveman — October 2, 2007 @ 8:44 am
And when you consider that Ike served during the height of McCarthyism, he KNEW what becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate could do. It wasn’t good for America then, and it isn’t good for America no.
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:56 amnews on Iraqi violence has dropped to almost nil. its creepy. has anyone else noticed this? to listen to the news, you’d think all the violence stopped? jesus, they really do have a stranglehold, I think palms are being oiled and arms twisted all around here.
saw some news organization trumpeting that violence was down 50 percent last month…gosh, what a convenient, easily digestable number.. 50..not 47…not 52.. 50.. hmmm i wonder whats statistically the chances of thousands of acts of violence dropping by a nice round fraction like that….?
I mean, with all this time being bought for political reconciliation to occur, it must be occuring now, right? the parliment is back from thier monthlong break and everything..
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:02 amNothing but Smoke and Mirrors. I call it the Joe LIEbermann tactic.
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:22 amHere’s a list of senators whose terms are up next year. Pay attention to the Republicans on the list — I imagine Graham will get a lot of Republican company calling for Iraq de-escalation as we get closer to the election.
Alexander, (R-TN)
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:39 amAllard, (R-CO) – not running
Barrasso, (R-WY)
Baucus, (D-MT)
Biden, (D-DE)
Chambliss, (R-GA)
Cochran, (R-MS)
Coleman, (R-MN)
Collins, (R-ME)
Cornyn, (R-TX)
Craig, (R-ID) – not running
Dole, (R-NC)
Domenici, (R-NM)
Durbin, (D-IL)
Enzi, (R-WY)
Graham, (R-SC)
Hagel, (R-NE) – not running
Harkin, (D-IA)
Inhofe, (R-OK)
Johnson, (D-SD)
Kerry, (D-MA)
Landrieu, (D-LA)
Lautenberg, (D-NJ)
Levin, (D-MI)
McConnell, (R-KY)
Pryor, (D-AR)
Reed, (D-RI)
Roberts, (R-KS)
Rockefeller, (D-WV)
Sessions, (R-AL)
Smith, (R-OR)
Stevens, (R-AK)
Sununu, (R-NH)
Warner, (R-VA) – not running