Later today, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the NONBINDING resolution that delivers a slap to President Bush for his Iraq policy.
The Dems' resolution is short.
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), that _
(1) Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and
(2) Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq.
It may be brief, but its consequences may ripple for generations.
That may seem like a strange statement, considering that I've labeled the resolution as meaningless.
I've argued that the Dems and the defector Republicans should vote to cut off funding for the war in a big way if they really believe that Bush's Iraq policy is such a misguided mess, rooted in lies. I've called them cowards for putting forth a symbolic resolution.
While I still think that the defeatist Dems and their Republican allies are cowards, I no longer think that today's vote is purely symbolic, intended to do little more than take a swipe at the President.
It's true that this particular resolution has no meat, but now I think that it does have tremendous significance.
This is the first step in the Dems' "defeat by a thousand cuts" strategy. Joined by spineless Republicans, these elected officials are determined to set the country on a course of surrender.
They have no qualms about saying to the world that the United States is weak and lacks resolve.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- President George W. Bush was resigned to a stinging rebuke from the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday over his Iraq war policy and his decision to send more troops, the White House said.
The Democratic-controlled House was set to vote late on Friday on a symbolic resolution supporting U.S. forces in Iraq but opposing the Republican president's decision to send another 21,500 troops.
"Congress has a right to express its views," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. Bush was holding his fire, prepared to fight any subsequent effort by lawmakers to cut funding for the war.
While the resolution would not force Bush to act, its supporters hope to pressure him to reverse course and start bringing U.S. forces home from the unpopular war in which more than 3,100 American troops have died.
"No more blank checks for President Bush on Iraq," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared. She warned the White House that the measure would be only the first of a raft of legislation on the war coming to the House floor.
The measure was expected to pass with support of virtually all of the House's 233 Democrats and possibly dozens of its 201 Republicans, many worried about their political fate should they keep backing the president on the war.
This dance is a disgrace.
Supporters of the NONBINDING Iraq resolution are really raising a white flag.
They may think that they're securing their political futures by voting to surrender. The Dems have been hacking away at Bush for years. Now weasel Republicans are jumping on the bandwagon and abandoning the President to protect themselves.
If these politicians had principles, they would understand that their vote on the resolution is more than just a move in a personal political game.
For the U.S. to leave Iraq before it is somewhat stable is like sending an engraved invitation to Iran to join the party and cause more chaos, potentially breeding the sort of extremism that brought us 9/11.
It's weird.
Of all the things that I feared in the first months after the day of those horrific attacks, I never would have predicted that the country would be where it is today.
As incomprehensible as the terrorist attacks were, it's even harder to believe that we would be so divided less than six years after that terrible Tuesday morning.
I thought everything had changed. Isn't that what we were told? We would never be the same.
I thought we would stand together as we battled our enemies.
I was so wrong.
Some say Iraq is a civil war, a quagmire. I think our greatest challenge is the war being waged here at home.
A group of Americans are actually plotting to weaken our Commander-in-Chief while we have troops abroad engaged in armed conflict.
Our most threatening enemy isn't al Qaeda. It's not Islamic extremists. Our greatest enemy is ourselves.
How can we take on outside threats when we're caught up in attacking each other?
The terrorists don't have to stage another 9/11 and another and another. That's not necessary. They can leave our destruction up to us.
The "NONBINDERS" are pursuing their sneaky little plots to undermine the Bush administration and effectively rip the backbone from the United States.
It makes me sick to think that they may succeed at making us the weakest, most powerful nation on earth.
The possible dreadful consequences of proceeding down that road should not be underestimated.
_________________________
For a moment, think about where you were on September 11, 2001 when you heard that our country was under attack.
I saw the second plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center live on TV. I watched the massive towers crumble in real time. It was the stuff of nightmares, positively unreal.
One of the few comforts at that time was found in knowing that we were truly united in our resolve to preserve our nation and defeat our enemies.
That's gone. There's no comfort to be found.
That beautiful unity was an aberration. I think it was a reflexive response. The shock of the attacks was so intense that it prompted an unusual bipartisanship.
When the Dems and the Republican defectors vote today to take their first on the record step to secure our defeat in Iraq, I'll be thinking of how it felt when we were united in purpose.
Today will be a dark day for our nation. Islamic extremists and others wishing us ill will have reason to celebrate.
Although this vote will be an encouraging, bright spot for our enemies, they should note that our nation has survived days much, much darker than this one.
I can't stand the methods that the Dems have decided to use to undercut President Bush and General Petraeus and the other generals.
I'm not proud of what will happen today in the House; but nothing they do can change how I feel about my country.
I am so proud to be an American. I am so grateful for the tremendous sacrifices others have made for my freedom. I don't have words to express my gratitude.
It's such a blessing to be an American.
I love my country.
