Daschle Iraq Comments II

Daschle was in Pierre, South Dakota yesterday, praising (yes, praising) the Bush administration's war effort in Iraq. It was a bizarre moment, especially after the lashing Bush has been taking from Democrats in the Presidential primary process, where 75% of Democratic voters opposed the war. But then again, Pierre, the South Dakota capital, isn't Washington, where Daschle carries on a relentless effort to undermine the Bush administration. Denise Ross, a star of a reporter at the Rapid City Journal, broke the story. Now Drudge has linked to it. And South Dakota Politics has weighed in, noting the completely different story that Daschle was recently putting out in DC. And the Democratic blog Buzzflash, which has already called for Daschle to step down as leader given his compromised position, is again saying how Daschle is "counterproductive" as the Democratic leader.

So, in December 2002, Daschle said "I think a strike against Iraq at this time would be a mistake." He argued that attacking Iraq would further complicate problems in the Middle East and cause the Islamic world to question "the direction of U.S. policy." Then Daschle opposed the Iraq plan for months, but then voted for it. Then he ripped the President on the eve of war, then he praised the outcome. A few weeks ago in Washington he said the intelligence problem was inexcusable, and now, in Pierre, he praises the war. And people thought Kerry was bad. As for complicating life in the Midde East, we now have impending elections in Iraq, Saddam Hussein in jail, Libya abandoning its nuclear program, extensive evidence on the Iranian nuclear program, and a pro-democracy movement in Iran. Not bad. Note that Daschle started his political career as foreign policy aide on the Middle East with US Senator James Abourezk.

Comments

[Term Papers]

I never thought of it like that, but it really is true.

[Term papers]

I read your post with great interest. As you know, I am generally on the other side of you on the issue of Iraq but I respect and find your position very interesting.