Recall Sen. Reid

The constitution gives Congress power to declare war. In this age of undeclared wars, that power has been greatly weakened. So Senate majority leader Harry Reid apparently has decided that Congress ought, instead, to have the power to declare defeat in wars.

The leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate told journalists Thursday:

"This war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything, as is shown by the extreme violence in Iraq this week."

He says he told the President the same thing Wednesday, when Congressional leaders met the President to discuss the war funding bill.

I have no problem with that. What the senator tells the President in private is entirely up to him. But to make such a statement on the record is inexcusable. In some twisted political calculation, it may be beneficial for the Democratic Party. But Sen. Reid seriously undermined the national interest of our country, and he needs to be called to account for that.

Sen. Reid's remarks have more to do with the civil war between Red and Blue that is going on in America that it does with any effort to do what is best for the United States as a whole in Iraq and the Middle East.

Last Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney speculated that the Democrats would come around eventually, because defunding the war would mean the Democrats would have to shoulder responsibility for the U.S. defeat that would surely follow such a move. Sen. Reid's remark today was calculated to counter the Vice President's strategy. If the war is already lost, according to Sen. Reid's implied calculation, the Democrats cannot be blamed for it no matter what happens from here on out.

Sen. Reid gave no thought to the strategic effect that his public comment would have on the country. He critically undermined the national interests of the United States in making this remark.

The people of Nevada should recall Sen. Reid, and elect someone who cares about the country.

"Surge" too little too late?

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had a news conference today with retired Lt. Gen. Robert G. Gard Jr. and retired Brig. General John H. Johns. Sen. Reid's repeated his point on the ongoing conflict with the President over the war funding bill.

The Generals spoke in opposition to the current "surge" strategy. One point made was that the current strategy might have worked if it had been implemented years ago, but now it is just too little too late. The troops are not trained to perform the mission they are not being asked to perform. U.S. ground forces are being seen as unwelcome occupying forces, and this is not likely to change.

Their input needs to be taken seriously.

It has been clear for a long time that the solution in Iraq is not military. Neither is it political, despite what the politicians in Washington like to think. The solution must involve the religious leaders of the various communities in Iraq.