The playing field changes daily, but the outlines of a policy change are coming into view and begin with this:
Democratic leaders can devise a proposal, based on Republican Sen. Lugar’s, that reduces troop strength this year and moves to further careful reduction through next year; that is based on Republican Sen. Warner’s proposal to bring 5,000 troops home by this Christmas; and that is based on Gen. Pace’s view that our troop strength should be cut by about half during 2008. This could be brought together with proposals to redeploy troops that remain to fight al Qaeda, protect the Syrian and Iranian borders with Iraq; and train Iraqi military and police far more effectively than anything being done today.
The net effect would be a more effective policy, significant reduction of American casualties, significant de-escalation of the war, an end to cruel and destructive abuses of troop rotations, real pressure on the Iraqi government to reconcile, and more effective attacks on the true terrorists that pose the real threat.
These policy changes are based on views of senior military and intelligence leaders and on the true opinion of the most senior respected Republicans in Congress.
If Republicans obstruct or the president refuses, the Democrats should refuse to pass any more funding, even filibuster if necessary, and take the case to the country that this madness must now end.
Final point: Democrats should adamantly refuse to allow Gen. Petraeus to testify on the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.
This disgusting, shameful, sickening and nauseating exploitation of 9/11 should not be allowed now, or ever again, and Petraeus, who will not write the report that bears his name, should only testify about that report after it has been released.
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