Say it ain't so!!
Looks like the GOP may be caving on the Iraq spending bill. Or at least five Reps are.
Gilchrest Seeking White House Deal on Iraq
A diverse collection of House Republicans has formed an ad hoc group to negotiate with the White House on a compromise Iraq spending bill, Politico's Ryan Grim reports. The group plans to hold talks with National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, who has been working behind the scenes to cement opposition among Republicans to the spending bill that would require U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq at some point.
The group includes five Republicans, diverse in geography and ideology: Reps. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, Charles Boustany of Louisiana, Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska, Mac Thornberry of Texas and Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland. Of the five, only Gilchrest broke with his party to support a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
Now, Gilchrest says the group will encourage the White House to compromise on negotiations with Syria and Iran and on setting a date for withdrawal from Iraq. And the group has national security bona fides that will help it be taken seriously.
Oh BABY, is this good news!!!!! First Reid gets and holds the Dems in the Senate to vote for this legislation, and then after a few l-o-n-g days of Republicans having to listen to Bush's petulant blathering, they decide to act. Not for America's sake, surely, nor for the sake of the troops, or Iraq, but for their own political futures.
But, make no mistake. This is big. It is Bush's worst nightmare.
The GOP blinked first.
Halle-fucking-lujah!!!!!!!
And, one more to send you off to sweet, sweet slumber.......
The GOP negotiating team's argument will start with Gen. David Petraeus' public assertion that the war in Iraq cannot be won militarily but requires a comprehensive political solution. Part of that includes letting Iraq know the American commitment isn't open-ended, Gilchrest said.
"The president needs to let the Iraqis know we won't be there forever," he said in an interview.