House Republicans Call Democrats' Bluff

The House Republicans drafted legislation tonight and plan to force a House vote tomorrow on the commitment of the U.S. to achieve victory in Iraq.

The Resolution is as follows:

RESOLUTION expressing the commitment of the House of Representatives to achieving victory in Iraq.

Whereas the Iraqi election of December 15, 2005, the first to take place under the newly ratified Iraqi Constitution, represented a crucial success in the establishment of a democratic, constitutional order in Iraq; and

Whereas Iraqis, who by the millions defied terrorist threats to vote, were protected by Iraqi security forces with the help of United States and Coalition forces: Now, therefore, be it resolved that--

1. the House of Representatives is committed to achieving victory in Iraq;

2. the Iraqi election of December 15, 2005, was a crucial victory for the Iraqi people and Iraq's new democracy, and a defeat for the terrorists who seek to destroy that democracy;

3. the House of Representatives encourages all Americans to express solidarity with the Iraqi people as they take another step toward their goal of a free, open, and democratic society;

4. the successful Iraqi election of December 15, 2005, required the presence of United States Armed Forces, United States-trained Iraqi forces, and Coalition forces;

5. the continued presence of United States Armed Forces in Iraq will be required only until Iraqi forces can stand up so our forces can stand down, and no longer than is required for that purpose;

6. setting an artificial timetable for the withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq, or immediately terminating their deployment in Iraq and redeploying them elsewhere in the region, is fundamentally inconsistent with achieving victory in Iraq;

7. the House of Representatives recognizes and honors the tremendous sacrifices made by the members of the United States Armed Forces and their families, along with the members of Iraqi and Coalition forces; and

8. the House of Representatives has unshakable confidence that, with the support of the American people and the Congress, United States Armed Forces, along with Iraqi and Coalition forces, shall achieve victory in Iraq.

(It was online in Adobe format here. I re-keyed it, hopefully without typos!)

You can tell it was a great move, because Nancy Pelosi is already foaming at the mouth...(from Fox News)

Ron Bonjean, a spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said House Republicans hope Democrats will stand with them in backing the resolution.

But a Pelosi spokeswoman, Jennifer Crider, said: "Talk about playing politics with the Iraq war, American troops and the American troop deserve a real debate — not the Republican stunt."

This is a direct response to Jack Murtha and his silly suggestions (let's redeploy our troops to Okinawa???), Howard Dean and his ranting (the idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq...is just plain wrong) and Nancy Pelosi's mind-boggling claims that the majority of Dems are for immediate troop withdrawal (after they all voted against it a few weeks ago).

Once again, the Republicans are forcing the Democrats to vote and go on the public record as to where they stand on this war. And finally putting to rest the silly notion that withdrawing the troops is somehow the best strategy to achieve victory in Iraq (well, it is...but for the wrong side!)

C-SPAN will be 'must-see TV' tomorrow!!!