Lindsey Graham Sets 90 Day Deadline For Iraq

[ProSense]

Lindsey Graham Sets 90 Day Deadline For Iraq

grahamIn February, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) warned against setting any kind of deadline for Iraq. Appearing on Fox News Sunday, he said, “I cannot guarantee you success, but I can promise you this: The day you set timelines and deadlines, it’s lost in Iraq.”

Nine months later, Graham is setting a timetable for Iraq:

Graham told Time Wednesday that the Iraqi leaders have 90 days to start resolving their political differences with real legislative agreements or face a change in strategy by the U.S. “If they can’t do it in 90 days,” he said, “it means the major players don’t want to.” <…>

Graham, who is up for re-election in 2008, said he will not wait forever. “If they can’t pull it together in the next 90 days,” he said, “I don’t think they are ever gonna do it.” He followed that prediction with a promise: “If they don’t deliver in 90 days, I will openly say the chances for political reconciliation are remote.” <…>

“If they can’t do it by the end of the year,” he said, “how do you justify a continued presence?”

Graham’s bark doesn’t seem to have any bite, however. His stern words of warning to the Iraqi government are not accompanied by any repercussions. Time reports Graham “would not elaborate on what kind of plan he would push if the Iraqis fail to meet the deadline.”

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Deadlines don't work, another busted Republican talking point demolished by Kerry

[napi21]

1. Hmmm...is this the first prominent Pub to turn against Shrub?

Sure sounds like it to me!

[TwilightGardener]

6. Chuck Hagel ring a bell?

[napi21]

19. But Chuck wasn't the solid Shrub supporter like Graham was.

Chuck was a bit more of an independant thinker and spoke what he believed, much like Snowe. Graham has been the hard core "I'm a military guy" and as a JAG Officer, I'm glad to hear him turn the corner.

[TwilightGardener]

22. I don't think he "turned the corner"--he's worse than John Warner--Lindsey

does NOTHING without White House instruction and approval, and being a reserve JAG officer doesn't really make him "military" in a meaningful sense, and he knows it. He's a desperate ass-kisser and brown-noser, and he's most likely worried about re-election, given his support of the immigration bill and the fact that he's probably about to be outed as gay. This is a farce, invented to show that the GOP "cares" about political reconciliation and someday ending the war. They know that if they allow the Dems to continue grabbing the high road on Iraq, the GOP is going to take a huge bath in 2008. It's like others have been saying--when the Senate primary season is over, you'll see a lot more antiwar activity from the GOPers--Lindsey's just starting his phony bullshit early.

[Evergreen Emerald]

2. bull shit--how many times do we move the bar 90 more days or 6 more months

The time has long past.

[mark414]

3. first August was "make or break"....then it was "wait for Petraeus in September"

now it's the end of the year, then it'll be March, then let's wait for the summer, then oh let's wait until after the election, and before you know it it's 2015.

kick all the bastards out and put em all in jail for enabling this shit

[rockymountaindem]

4. 535 legislators setting 535 different self-imposed deadlines

is kind of like that "infinite monkeys jumping on infinite typewriters" thing.

[Theduckno2]

5. 90 days and the primary season begins shortly thereafter. How convenient!

Does the anchor of the Iraq war tied around your neck make it difficult to swim in political waters Lindsey?

It would seem that the Republicans may be looking to blame the Iraqis in order to bolster the political chances in 2008.

Is it me or am I starting to hear more of the politically empty issues as the election draws closer?

Case in point: Fighting airline flight delays has suddenly become the cause du jour in Washington. Anyone who has been caught in traffic knows how to deal with traveling in peak times: leave earlier.

Huge budget deficits, falling dollar, the Iraq war, Gitmo, possible war with Iran, peak oil, climate change, to name a few, and what do they find for their political misdirection? Flight delays.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Smells like the usual Lady Lindsey bullshit. Iraqis will make some sort of

minor concession or improvement, and the Lady will be all over it, taking credit and using it to justify our further presence. He does nothing unless it benefits Chimpy--this is all pre-arranged.

[hatrack]

8. Blahblahblah Blahblahblah Blahblahblah Blahblahblah

Lindsey Graham announces "Legislative Wank-Fest '07".

:eyes:

[City Lights]

9. Flip-flopper!

Buy any cheap rugs lately, Lindsey?

[Quantess]

10. Call me a cynic, but,

It doesn't speak well of our Democrats when it's a Republican trying to take action against the war.

[TwilightGardener]

12. What action is he taking? Beyond threatening to declare a political reconciliation

unlikely in 90 days?

[Quantess]

14. You're right, it does seem like an empty gesture.

I'm just disheartened, in general, that the Dems aren't doing enough to stop the war.

[renie408]

17. I think it is a little better than the 'stay the course' crap they have been saying for the past ..

five years.

God, people, are you NEVER happy? I swear, if they brought all the soldiers home tomorrow, people here would bitch about it being five years too late or would find something wrong with how they did it.

Don't stop pushing for more, but recognize a step forward when you see one.

[TwilightGardener]

23. If a less sycophantic, less McCainesque Repub said this, I might believe it's

well-intentioned. But Lady Lindsey has long been the GOP's towel boy for selling Iraq and the Surge to the masses (much like McCain and Liberman), which tells this cynical dog that the Lady is following WH instructions and trying to put on a convincing show for some sort of GOP political gain.

[struggle4progress]

20. Graham is just nervous about facing 2008 voters

[terisan]

11. Well at least we can call him 90 day Graham to distinguish him from the other Graham nt

[bvar22]

13. Is this another "Friedman Unit"?

*

[Initech]

15. Does that include mercenary-for-hire units like Blackwater?

[renie408]

16. Well damn. And to think, the other day I said I was tired of writing letters...

to Graham and Demint about the war and everything else.

Hey, maybe it does work if enough people do it. Bite or no bite, this is a big change for Graham and it makes me feel good to hear it.

[DefenseLawyer]

18. 90 days, same as cash

giant rug liquidation sale! Everything must go!

[Blackhatjack]

21. It is all about delaying the inevitable... running the clock out until Nov 2008 for the handoff...

There is a plan being executed here by the Republicans.

Delay and move the date for decision until the new Democratic President takes office, then wage a withering attack on Democrats for 'losing the war' and bringing the troops home prematurely without honor.

Sorry Lindsay, but until you put some teeth in it, all you are doing is carrying out the Repub plan.

[Tatiana]

24. Ahhh, the sweet smell of another F.U. (Friedman Unit)! n/t

[flyarm]

25. he is a little weenie..who only gives a shbit about his own ass..he could care less ..

about our soldiers lives..its all about his sorry ass!

i can't stand his guts!

fly