Republican Congressman: Iraq War Was Mistake

[Fluffybunny]

I'm glad I am not the only one who thinks it was a mistake. Too bad Bush will be long gone while we will still be fighting and losing American soldiers to a pointless war based on questionable "intelligence" (I use the term incredibly loosely here).

Bush started something that he will not be able to finish, and his own party is starting to realize what a mess his leadership has gotten this country into.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Breaking ranks with the White House and his Republican leaders in Congress, Rep. Doug Bereuter of Nebraska has said in a letter to constituents the U.S. military action in Iraq was a mistake.

The Iraq war was a "costly mess" with no quick way out, wrote Bereuter, vice chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a senior member of the House International Relations Committee.

"I've reached the conclusion, retrospectively, now that the inadequate intelligence and faulty conclusions are being revealed, that all things being considered, it was a mistake to launch that military action especially without a broad and engaged international coalition," he said in the letter dated Aug. 6.

Republican leaders in Congress have supported President Bush (news - web sites)'s decision to invade Iraq on grounds that it had weapons of mass destruction that posed a danger to the United States. No stockpiles of such weapons have been found.

But Bereuter, who has resigned his seat in the House of Representatives to become president of the Asia Foundation, expressed dismay over the decision to go to war.

"The cost in casualties is already large and growing, and the immediate and long-term financial costs are incredible," he wrote, reflecting on his 2002 vote in favor of a resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq.

"Our country's reputation around the world has never been lower and our alliances are weakened," he added.

"Now we are immersed in a dangerous, costly mess and there is no easy and quick way to end our responsibilities in Iraq without creating bigger future problems in the region and, in general, in the Muslim world."

The White House had no comment on the letter.

Link to article

Edited August 18, 2004 by Fluffybunny

[snuffypuffer]

About time...

[Fluffybunny]

The CNN article on this subject lists another quote that wasn't in the yahoo news version I originally posted above:

Bereuter was particularly critical of the pre-war intelligence, which described an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But no such weapons have been found since the U.S.-led invasion.

Bereuter voted in support of an October 2002 resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq, but he said that vote was based on what he had been told about the WMD threat from Iraq.

"Left unresolved for now is whether intelligence was intentionally misconstrued to justify military action," Bereuter said.

After 26 years on Capitol Hill, Bereuter is retiring next month, and will become the president of Asia Foundation.

CNN Link

Ouch, I wonder how many others in his party are thinking the same thing but just not willing to ruin their careers by coming out and saying it?

[TheBloom]

realising you're wrong does nothing. Doing something about the fact you were wrong does something. Right now, nothings getting better.

[SerenitysRiver]

I agree completely. The problem is, at this point, anything that he does do will be little dog-and-pony-show stuff to fulfill his image in the polls. (At least, that's how it will appear to me, because he has been poll chasing for as long as I've been aware.) He will do almost anything, I am convinced, to get votes, including deception and lying to make himself look better. He accuses Kerry of being a flip flop? Well, that's better than being a flat-out liar.

I'm not one of those people who will blame anything and everything under the sun on Bush. That's just ignorant. But, I am a person who cried when I watched the end of the DNC because of my pent up frustration and (sometimes) utter disgust at how our nation is being run.

[bathory]

"I've reached the conclusion, retrospectively, now that the inadequate intelligence and faulty conclusions are being revealed, that all things being considered, it was a mistake to launch that military action especially without a broad and engaged international coalition," he said in the letter dated Aug. 6.

well maybe the d******* should have voted accordingly in regards to giving Bush the go ahead, oh what? he reached it retrospectively? well then his opinion means jack...

[Babs]

The Iraq war was a "costly mess" with no quick way out, wrote Bereuter.

"Quick way out!" What a joke...If the dems can't get immediate satisfaction they don't want anything to do with a war. Sorry, guys, but war takes guts, time and commitment. (something the dems seem to be short on ).

[BurnSide]

Yes Babs, yes it does. 100%!!

Something that president Bush obviously never thought of, considering now he's screwed the country up so royally with this little 'mistake', he's probably more than happy to step aside and let someone else deal with his sh**.

[_hAiLO_]

nah, i don't know. wouldn't you think that it was worth it? America played the hero this time and really saved Iraq from dictatorship. The terrorists are going down one by one.

I personally think Bush is the bigger body gaurd for America than Kerry.

besides, isn't this Kerry in an anti-war rally? Anti-war, anti-guns, anti-protection?

There are some 3rd wrold countries out there that i think the great 8 countries should pay attention to and get them going.

feel free to prove me wrong, not a bad idea to ruin my day...

[Dancing_Dumplings]

The terrorists are going down one by one.

ya but as thats happening...more and more are being born. one terrorist dies...and another is born to take its place. an endless cycle.

[Babs]

Yes Babs, yes it does. 100%!!

Something that president Bush obviously never thought of, considering now he's screwed the country up so royally with this little 'mistake', he's probably more than happy to step aside and let someone else deal with his sh**.

That's ridiculous. He didn't screw anything up. We are in better shape than ever. Thank god.

[Babs]

The terrorists are going down one by one.

ya but as thats happening...more and more are being born. one terrorist dies...and another is born to take its place. an endless cycle.

Then you keep killing them. We have no choice. What do you want to do...babysit them?

[Fluffybunny]

"Quick way out!" What a joke...If the dems can't get immediate satisfaction they don't want anything to do with a war. Sorry, guys, but war takes guts, time and commitment. (something the dems seem to be short on ).

Babs, he is a republican! He isn't a democrat, did you catch that?

I love how you automatically ASSumed that he was a democrat. That makes me laugh everytime...

Do you understand that Bush has p***ed off his own party, and some of his staunchest supporters?

Edited August 20, 2004 by Fluffybunny

[Fluffybunny]

That's ridiculous. He didn't screw anything up. We are in better shape than ever. Thank god.

Thats BS and you know it babs, we have turned more of the world against us than ever.

That would be Bushs' fault...

By the way, you know you have problems when your own party is saying that it was a mistake.

You seem to be missing a point. The "terrorists" that you speak of were not in Iraq. How many dang times do we have to make that point before you get it?

[Fluffybunny]

Sorry, guys, but war takes guts, time and commitment. (something the dems seem to be short on ).

How can you say something like that when the Democratic Candidate volunteered for combat duty, while your beloved republican Bush boy used his daddys connections to keep him in the gaurd and out of the war?

By the way babs, when are you enlisting for this war that you are so hyped up for? You seem to have all of the guts, time, and commitment to be willing to send others to do your dirty work, why in the heck don't you put your money where your mouth is and do something about it?

It is easy to talk about what it takes to go to war when you know you will be sitting on your butt at home nice and cozy...

hy·poc·ri·sy ( P ) Pronunciation Key (h-pkr-s)

n. pl. hy·poc·ri·sies

The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness. n 1: an expression of agreement that is not supported by real conviction [syn: lip service] 2: insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have. An act or instance of such falseness.

Edited August 20, 2004 by Fluffybunny

[Babs]

Wrong Wrong Wrong!

Is it me? Hahaha....or is it you?!

Fluffy, I can read, the guy is wrong and so are you. I don't care that he is republican, he's wrong.

I am the real Mc coy. Why does that bother you?!

Well, your little darling Kerry is losing this race. Just heard on the news that people are swayed now toward Bush because of the facts coming out about Kerry's service.

I guess you will be hard to live with now.

[Babs]

Hey, Fluffy ... took up a collection and got a big boat together and we're sending it your way. You're all going to be shipped out; you and all those european thinkers are goin' to europe!

P.S. When it sails by your house _jump!

Edited August 20, 2004 by Babs

[Fluffybunny]

Well, your little darling Kerry is losing this race. Just heard on the news that people are swayed now toward Bush because of the facts coming out about Kerry's service.

Are you referring to the lies from the Swiftboat group, if so you are kidding yourself, they have already been caught in several lies.

I love how a president who avoided combat is using a group of liars to discredit a candidate who volunteered for combat.

And you buy it hook line and sinker...how sad...

You should look up the facts on your swiftboat group, their own records are prooving that they are liars...

Of course that doesn't matter to you, you are willing to accept lies just as long as they are in favor of bushy boy...

[reese2]

No matter the absence, there are still a few things a girl can count on to remain the same, eh??

I have a lot of political reading to do here, you guys have been very busy....

[Fluffybunny]

And now that you figure out that a republican disagrees you are now saying he's wrong, what a joke...You were so sure that he was a democrat...Don't you see how silly you make yourself look when you do stuff like that?

It is blowing up in bushs face and you can't stand it can you...

Edited August 20, 2004 by Fluffybunny

[Fluffybunny]

Hey, Fluffy ... took up a collection and got a big boat together and we're sending it your way. You're all going to be shipped out; you and all those european thinkers are goin' to europe!

P.S. When it sails by your house _jump!

Well babs, at least I served my country.

I volunteered to go overseas. I gave up a good paying job, a nice home, my friends, my family and my cars just to go stand up and fight for what I believed in.

What have you done?

So far all I have seen is a bunch of ill-informed hypocritical opinions based on lord knows what...You talk big, but you don't have the guts to back up what you say with the slightest bit of sacrifice. Rather cowardly if you ask me.

The sacrifice is for everyone else to do while you sit around and talk about how right you are...

And you sit there telling me that you are sending a boat to ship me out of the country?

You are laughable. What a joke.

[nightbird]

Mr Bunny,

I dont think Babs will EVER admit ANYTHING negative about Bush even if she witnessed it with her own eyes.

it seems to her, and others like her, we are all on hallucenogens and are messed up in the head and fabricate evidence from our bums, becuase no way would good ol bush do that.

when it comes to people like that, I have learned, you just cant make them see. maybe its a genetic defect, or maybe its just plain hypocrisy and brainwashing.

[Permakid]

Wrong Wrong Wrong! 

Well that was a convincing argument! I'm sold! Wait, maybe I'll read the evidence first. Oh yeah, I forgot... there isn't any!

Is it me? Hahaha....or is it you?!   

Translation: Goobledygock p***nufar Hahaha... bolunstram nuk?!

That should clear things up a bit!

Fluffy, I can read, the guy is wrong and so are you. I don't care that he is republican, he's wrong. 

I can read, too. And so far you've said absolutely squat!

I am the real Mc coy. Why does that bother you?! 

I can't speak for Fluffy, but what bothers me is when you post a bunch of nonsense like this then expect everyone to both understand what the hell you're talking about and agree with you. I have to give you props though for not ending this one with "BUSH 2004!"

[_hAiLO_]

quote: "Sacrifices make heroes" - me

isn't it true?

sacrifices: President Bushes "resolvable" mistakes(we got out of the Great Depression, this is only minor)

America's Heroism: lead Iraq from dictatorship/ in process of smelting terrorists = Respect for America

[alis]

here, here!!!