Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vietnam Vet John Murtha, are arguing against the surge on the grounds that American troops are not going to Iraq properly trained and equipped:
On Thursday, Rep. John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat who has emerged as a leading voice against the war, is expected to spell out a strategy that would link any deployment of troops in Iraq to their readiness status. Democratic leaders appeared to be rallying around that message Wednesday, calling on Bush to make sure soldiers have the equipment and training necessary to fight.
“It is wrong to deploy troops to the Iraqi theater until they have the up-armored Humvees, equipment, lodging, training and other support required to carry out their mission,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wrote in a letter to the president.
Perhaps there’s a mission for Howard’s mini-surge? Train the Americans instead of the Iraqis?
If Howard’s looking for a counter to concerns that surge troops are not combat ready, he couldn’t go past the succinct and eloquent talking points articulated by Ann Coulter [vid over the fold].
Young Democrats of America Executive Director Jane Fleming is earning her stripes as a sparring partner for Ann Coulter.
Coulter is asked to point to Bush’s successes in Iraq. Her response? Initially – “pardon?” – then, “Um, I mean basically, it is like California, with Bagdhad as LA… you don’t talk about LA being a civil war…”
On Hannity/Colmes last year on the Foley affair – “You’re so random, Ann”:
Hannity – it’s all about Clinton and Lewinsky! Democrats have no moral authority!
Why is it that Ann Coulter (who to my mind looks like a life support system for STDs – just sayin’), advocate of vigorous Christian morality, so often looks drugged to the eyeballs?
Yes Kim,
Jane Fleming, tactically outnumbered, held her corner rather well.
Her best line: “(BushCo’s) sense of victory (in Iraq) is a moving target”.
The Rodent could quite easily use some of the talking points from the godless author godess, Ann “MOOJA-HEEDIN” Coulter. Some of Ann’s pearls that caght my fancy:
“Democrats are being mean to Condoleeza Rice”.
Bastards.
“we need to incentivize the Iraqis”
Eat your heart out John Hewson.
“liberals always want to punish our friends”.
Ann said it thrice.
“Well OK, attack the president’s rhetoric”.
A thankless exercise in deconstructing manglespeak.
“the war(Iraq) which we are winning”.
Just ask The Imbecile.
“Iraq is like California, The Crips and The Bloods”. When you’re a Shillette, you’re a Shillette all the way.
And finally. “No,no, no, no, I don’t need a better idea, I’m with the president”.
Arrgghhhh. Somebody help me, please.
Shhhh Christine! Ann Coulter is getting her gear from Rev. Ted Haggard’s go to guy. It’s supposed to be strictly “need to know” at the highest levels of GOP thinktankism. Trust you to blow this sort of thing wide open. Was a time when women of your profession were discrete about such goings on.
Btw, have your services been called upon later this week? Not just anyone gets to receive Dead Eye Dick, you know, you cheeky, cocky courtesan, you.
Interestingly enough there have been enquiries, on a strictly need to know basis, from parties wanting to know if I provide services in “pre-emptive grovelling.”
It’s all those “unprotected emails” she receives, Christine.
What’s Coulter’s back story? For the unitiated…
She trained as a lawyer, and apparently did well in school and in her early career. She then figured she could earn more shilling for the reactionary wing of conservatism as long as she never forgot the short skirts and the flippy hair to accessorise her vicious polemic.
She came to prominence attacking Clinton before and after Lewinskygate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Coulter
Big article on wiki.
Here she is putting those legal skills she honed in drafting briefs for Paula Jones to work:
“she quipped, “I think airlines ought to start advertising: ‘We have the most civil rights lawsuits brought against us by Arabs.’â€? When the interviewer replied by asking what Muslims would do for travel, she responded, “They could use flying carpets.â€?”
That’s beautiful and no paper deserves it more than the Guardian..and not such a bad idea