Now I don't want to get off on a rant here...

Yeah, interesting - when Ted Kennedy suggests pulling out 12,000 American troops Conservatives flip out and accuse him of undermining the US mission in Iraq.

When one week later, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz says that 15,000 American troops should be withdrawn, Conservatives DON'T flip out and accuse him of undermining the US mission in Iraq.

In case you missed it, Wolfowitz's number is 3,000 more than Kennedy's number. So isn't Wolofitz trying to do more to undermine the US mission in Iraq?

You tell me.

I wasn't upset at the suggestion of 12,000 troops being pulled out. Although I believe the Deputy Secretary of Defense speaks from a greater source of knowledge about those types of specifics than does the senior Senator from Massachusetts.

What upset conservatives was the notion that our troops were part of the problem and not part of the solution. That coupled with the comparisons of Iraq to Vietnam, and how the American Troops were demonized then and the submissive attempt to do so now. This was simply not a wise and valid criticism to make on the cusp of a triumph for the Iraqi people and the Administration’s policies.

Dear American Friends:
We want freedom and Democracy in the Democratic republic of Congo too. President George Bush sincerely and passionately talks about it but little gets done, unfortunately.

"Freedom is on the March": Yes but it still must find its way to Africa. The situation has been left to the UN, France and Great Britain to handle. We see little positive results and desperation is gaining grounds. A new direction is needed. The US must quickly and actively get involved.

LOOK AT THIS, IT MUST BE STOPPED. NOW ! Your help is needed
http://www.africanews1.com/kagame/images/genocide-rdc.gif

Tshilombo

Jeff:

"What upset conservatives was the notion that our troops were part of the problem and not part of the solution."

No, what made conservatives happy was another opportunity to stick it to Ted Kennedy. Too bad your boy Wolfowitz made you all look like a bunch of hipocrites.

Tshilombo:

No one in the administration gives a rat's ass about freedom or democracy, that's just the newest spin they've given to the invasion of Iraq since all the other ones have fallen through.

Quite frankly, Ted Kennedy is on the fringe of the political core of power. Of course he has a microphone and it is the microphone and his words that seek to undermine the progress we are making in Iraq. He has already staked out a position that requires failure for him to be seen as a relevant voice. He can keep talking but that doesn’t change the facts that the President’s policy is going to be seen as a success and the Iraqi people will be shown to have the courage of their convictions. Why support a position that requires our troops to fail, to be villains and to die in greater numbers than they are?

I think Tshilombo comes from a position that sees the success of Iraq, that sees the compassion of this administration and wants to see that compassion directed at the Congo. The continent of Africa needs to have more attention paid to it and America’s compassion should be directed towards them

Malnurtured Snay’s cynical reaction is an unfortunate one and truly adds nothing to the conversation except a sad outlook on life.