I ran across a piece that gives a concise description of why we are currently withdrawing from Iraq (according to the President’s news conference yesterday) and the motivations for this move. Although some of my more liberal friends, I am sure, will take issue with the reasons for withdrawal and positive emphasis on the timing, it’s a useful description of the motivations for the move.
I think it’s interesting that, lately, the right-wing has begun emphasizing the talking point that we are withdrawing “based upon our successes”. As if withdrawal from Iraq is some kind of cookie for doing a good job. I’m not on-board with that analysis, though. I think it’s an excuse for trying to sweeten the well for the coming election. Bush has encountered a hostile congress, and the back-pedaling seems, to me, to be a lame attempt to try to reconcile in time to get incumbent parties re-elected come this Fall.
Too little, too late. Although the anti-incumbency sentiment was at its height in 2006, I think enough remains that we’re going to end up with a Democratic White House and at least either the Senate or House of Representatives is going to tip Republican.
From the noises they are all making lately, though, I’m not sure it makes much difference what party controls the Congress. My party — the Republican party — held the ideals of less government, lower taxes, strong military, and fiscal responsibility dear. The current Administration, both Presidential candidates, and the Congress, seem to be ignoring those ideals.