by Frank James
Congressional leaders have declared a truce from the partisan sniping just long enough to observe the Iraq War's fifth anniversary.
The event, which is also meant to mark sacrifices by U.S. servicemembers and their families in Afghanistan, is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT in the Capitol Rotunda and will include participation by the House and Senate.
The commemoration of the invasion comes at a moment when the war appears to be at another turning point. On Tuesday, the Pentagon reported that eight U.S. servicemembers in Iraq were killed on Monday, the wost single day of fatalities for U.S. forces in months.
Meanwhile, there were signs that one of the key elements that had helped to lower violence during the U.S. military surge of the past year was coming unglued. In recent days militia forces loyal to Muktada al Sadr have clashed with U.S. and Iraqi forces.
As the the Hill newspaper reported earlier in the week, while the event is supposed to be bipartisan, Democrats could gain some advantage by focusing attention once again on the war, especially at a time when economic concerns have risen to primacy for many voters.
The idea of holding a bipartisan ceremony on a war that has bitterly divided the two parties was conceived in (Speaker Nancy) Pelosi’s office. Democratic aides insist that partisan reasons played no part in deciding to hold it this week.
But the event will be held days before the five-year anniversary of the invasion of the war and at a time when both parties are trying to shape the election-year debate over whether U.S. military involvement in the country should continue.
Democrats are eager to point to the five-year anniversary to make their point that the war has gone on for too long, having surpassed the duration of U.S. involvement in World War II, costing the country $11 billion per month and putting American lives at risk.
Spotlighting the length of the war and reminding voters about the run-up to the invasion are part of the Democrats’ strategy to build the case for withdrawing troops from Iraq, analysts and strategists say.
See a Tribune collection of the stories of all 4,500 of the casualties of the war in Iraq.
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Comments
Isn't John McCain going to be there to tell us all how great things are in Iraq?
Posted by: BobHusseininATL | March 13, 2008 9:49 AM
Meanwhile, for what the Left really thinks about honoring our troops, this from Kenneth Thiese in The Berkeley Daily Planet.
"In the recent political battle around the Marine recruiting station in Berkeley there has been much confusion around the concept or slogan of “supporting the troops,” but opposing the unjust wars of the Bush regime. Many who oppose the Bush regime wars also say they “support the troops.” Let me say it straight out—I do not support the troops and neither should you. It is objectively impossible to support the troops of the imperialist military forces of the U.S. and at the same time oppose the wars in which they fight."
Mr Thiese deserves some credit for having the courage to say precisely what most Leftists in this country think, but don't have the guts to say in public.
Posted by: Bruce | March 13, 2008 9:55 AM
As a 64 year old Black man, I feel there are too many of us voting for Obama because he is Black and not because he is the man for the job. I frankly do not trust him! What has he really done or won? I will support him if he is the nominee, but reluctantly.
Posted by: Barney F. Howell | March 13, 2008 10:10 AM
Brucie:
John Hagee has made many anti-Catholic statements.
He is a conservative. He is supporting John McCain.
Therefore, according to your thinking, he represents ALL conservatives and John McCain supporters!!
Right??
Posted by: BobHusseininATL | March 13, 2008 10:37 AM
Jack Abramoff - the gift that keeps on giving for the Democrats!!
"The Jack Abramoff scandal never quite ends, and today brings a new installment: The disgraced lobbyist and his former law firm, Greenberg Traurig, have been indicted by a Guam Superior Court grand jury.
Jill Perry, Greenberg Traurig's director of communications, says the firm learned about the charges the same way Legal Times did: from various newspapers in the South Pacific. While the Washington press corps might have been asleep at the switch on this one, the same can't be said for Micronesia's Marianas Variety or Guam's Pacific Daily News."
Posted by: BobHusseininATL | March 13, 2008 11:24 AM
BobHusseininATL
You could have watched him yourself on C-SPAN this morning. I'm sure FOX etc. will play clips the rest of the day though.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | March 13, 2008 11:36 AM
Actually, Bruce, you obtuse fool, most "leftist's" (I find that term rather hilarious coming from Bruce the "Former Leftist") would tell you that the way to support the troops is to bring them home.
Sorry, these folks in Berkeley speak for themselves.
Or should we automatically assume you agree with the David Dukes, Timothy McVeighs, Ann Coulters, John Hagees and other assorted lunatics who support your political agenda?
Posted by: Jones | March 13, 2008 1:33 PM
[quote]
Mr Thiese deserves some credit for having the courage to say precisely what most Leftists in this country think, but don't have the guts to say in public.
Posted by: Bruce | March 13, 2008 9:55 AM
[/quote]
Brucie, please provide PROOF that this is truly what "most Leftists think".
Either that, or man up and admit that you just posted your OPINION which has nothing to do with FACTS or REALITY.
Posted by: BC | March 13, 2008 2:22 PM