Are the Republicans beginning to break ranks on Iraq?

If we are going to make significant progress on reducing the American presence in Iraq before 2009, it seems likely that we will need the support of some Congressional Republicans.

Are we going to get any?  

So far the signs have not been positive, but this may be beginning to change.

According to the New York Times,  

"Representative James T. Walsh of New York, who earlier this year warned Mr. Bush that he needed to change course in Iraq, announced Monday that he was backing a troop withdrawal."

In addition, Senator Gordon Smith

and a handful of other Republicans who have expressed serious reservations about the war said they were not comfortable with the proposal by General Petraeus to go into next summer with about 130,000 troops remaining in Iraq.

"What he is recommending results in our having the same number of troops 10 months from now as we had 10 months ago," said Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine. "I would like to see more progress made on changing the mission of our troops."

Now, I wouldn't put too much weight on any of this becaue except for Walsh all the others are merely expressing concern as opposed to coming up with concrete demands.  Nevertheless, its good to see that Republicans are feeling the pressure and beginning to react to it.

•  Tip Jar

  For dissension among the Republicans ... may it grow into something serious

  by Justanothernyer on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:25:27 PM PDT

•  Wait for the votes

  when you see their actual votes, you might have cause for celebration; until then, it's just tactics.

  by Joffan on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:27:42 PM PDT

  •  This will require

    the Dems to set up clear votes where these Reps have to choose

    by Justanothernyer on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:31:17 PM PDT

  •  all talks

    gotta see how they vote

    by fugue on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 11:06:03 PM PDT

•  To answer your title question..

  ....no....no they're not.

  Oh sure they talk like they're going to, and their constituents chews them out and they urge patience and vow to do something.

  And then the NEXT report comes out saying there's SOME progress and all of a sudden they start humming in tune that we cna't leave now when we're doing so much better.

  Jon Stewart once had a show where he played clips throughout the year of people saying how great things are going and how much progress we're making in Iraq.  He made some comment (paraphrasing) about how we've made so much progress Iraq must be a utopia of democracy by now. "oh...wait..."

  by DawnG on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:28:25 PM PDT

•  Unless the Dem leadership

  has the courage to throw down the gauntlet and put the Repubs' backs to the wall, they'll have no reason to do more than talk.

  by monster on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:32:23 PM PDT

  •  Keep watching the floor

    that gauntlet is likely to show up soon.

    I think they are simply biding their time, waiting 'til there is no chance of failure, and no chance of poisoning our chances for 2008 and beyond.

    Moving too early and losing is not a chance a sane legislative body should take. (The Iraq invasion being an example to the contrary.)

    When it happens, hopefully we will have some good crow recipes to share...

    by Niniane on Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 05:52:47 AM PDT

•  Wow, is this a real Diary?

  the answer is HELL NO.

  "Go into next summer with about 130,000" ???  They might as well support "The sun is expected to rise tomorrow" - as it would have as much meaning.

  It sounds, more than ever, like they are lockstep on Iraq.  The plan has always been to pull back the surge - because it is completely unsustainable.  

  If they want to break ranks with the Administration - they'll be calling for Impeachment.

  by Yoshi En Son on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:34:03 PM PDT

•  After this week, not a chance. n/t

  by valion on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:38:09 PM PDT

  •  Petraeus

    Do you think he was that effective?

    by Justanothernyer on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:39:38 PM PDT

    •  No. minimally to lo info voters.n/t

      by Pete Rock on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:45:01 PM PDT

    •  Between him, Crocker, and Moveon.org,

      Republicans (your focus), got all the reenforcement they needed to say FU, Harry/Nancy.  And I think Harry/Nancy know it.

      by valion on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 10:55:53 PM PDT

•  Keep Writing and Calling Representatives

  Your efforts do have an effect. If it is to be it is up to me. I will write Republican congressmen and demand an end to the war.

  by barbybuddy on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:40:48 PM PDT

•  Bush is placing a carrot

  on a string in front of the Congress. "Thru my agreement wit General Petraeus's statement", leaving 100,000 troops in Iraq is an improvement over leaving 130,000 which is an improvement over the 168,000."

  "Uuuuh,I will take the middle course".

  Yes,he will withdraw 38,000 troops.       Hooray! The catch is they go to Iran.

  by Pete Rock on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:43:50 PM PDT

•  Doesn't Matter. Dems Are Breaking the Other Way

  Republicans who might want to change course --assuming any actually would vote that way-- could not muster the Democratic votes required.

  by Gooserock on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 10:21:32 PM PDT

•  There is no such thing a sucess in Iraq

  There has never been a moment when anything about the statement "we are making progress in Iraq" has been true. Not during the past four years. The Iraqis hate our guts and are planting bombs and shooting us in the back to make their position clear. We are in no position to have a positive impact on their society. If Iraqis actually liked us the mission would be difficult. As it is the mission is impossible.

  We are repeatedly told we are fighting insurgents. We are the insurgents. The Iraqis are not the insurgents; they are Iraqis defending the sovereignty of their country and the practice of their religion as they perceive it.

  To Iraqis attacks against American are heroic and representative of Iraqi sympathy against Americans.

  Bushco would have us believe that most Iraqis want us there even though there is no evidence to support that conclusion.

  Occupations are risky business and must be handled very carefully as anyone who ever studied the Roman Empire or any other empire will tell you.

  This occupation has failed. If it is our intent to build an empire, then the sooner we end this boondoggle of a war the better. If it is not our intent to build an empire, pray tell why would we insist on staying in a country that has demonstrated so clearly its distain of our presence?

  by Sam Wise Gingy on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 10:32:46 PM PDT

•  Draw downs in Iraq

  May allow the Republicans to have the war and end it to, as was the case with Nixon and Viet Nam.

  by Sam Wise Gingy on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 10:35:10 PM PDT

•  all by design

  if they can make it appear that fellow Republicans are responsible for bringing a majority of the troops home before election time then they will have their victory story for the voters and the dems will lose out again.

  by lightnessofbeing on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 10:36:40 PM PDT

•  It is time for the GOP to wake up

  However - the liberal news media - is of absolutely no help.

  Their bosses (corporations) are all part of the military industrial groups - and they want to continue the war.

  So the American people are screwed - and the brave military men and women are getting killed for nothing but greed.

  I am sick of it -- I am sick to the very core of my heart.

  by sara seattle on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 10:46:07 PM PDT

•  I called Smith yesterday; my prediction

  I called Smith's office yesterday and asked that he start doing something concrete to bring the war to an end.  He's a big talker, but he sure doesn't do much.

  If Republicans do eventually realize that the war will sink them, I predict that some of the strongest anti-war voices will come from the Republican side of the aisle.  Like Ron Paul now.  And I bet it will steal the thunder from the leading Democrats who have been timid in their criticisms of the Bush Administration.  Democratic leaders talk a good game, but they seem to leave all of the heavy lifting to the Congressional Black Caucus and the Progressives in the House, who are naturally ignored in the media.

  by YoyogiBear on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 10:46:10 PM PDT

  •  Yep.

    by gopher747 on Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 01:36:34 AM PDT

•  Of course not!

  They look tough, and talk tough when the cameras are on them, and then they turn around and support the president on everything he does.

  It is all a show, because they know the people are against the war!  They are against LOOSING the war really!

  by GUGA on Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 05:45:04 AM PDT