"Hang it Up Harry" goes too far

Republicans blast back in response to comments made by the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid about the war in Iraq.  OK, I get it, Senator Reid doesn't like the war and probably does not like President Bush.  But will someone please tell me the benefit of spouting off in public to the news media that the war in Iraq is lost.  Reid said the following:

I believe myself that the secretary of state, secretary of defense and — you have to make your own decisions as to what the president knows — (know) this war is lost and the surge is not accomplishing anything as indicated by the extreme violence in Iraq (Wednesday).

If I was a soldier on the ground in Iraq, I'd be questioning the next time I’m out on patrol just what the ... am I doing out here?  Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) had it right when she said:

Instead of a road map to success, we are being asked to support a plan for defeat. We're being asked to announce to our enemies a date for surrender. 

"Hang it Up Harry" has gone too far this time and needs to apologize to the troops and the American people far publicly voicing his negative beliefs.  It's demoralizing, self-defeating, misplaced, and just plain irresponsible. 

People around the world (especially in Iraq) who don't completely understand how our government functions could view Reid's remarks as speaking for the U.S. Government and hurt our ability to garner support from the citizens of Iraq.  In addition, his comments show me that he has very little understanding of the ability and determination of our men and women serving our country in the Armed Forces.

Criticizing the President's policies privately and trying to seek a compromise on the war funding bill in an effort to push your agenda is part of politics and a majority of Americans can accept that and live with it.  But there are a lot of people across this country that have sons, daughters, relatives, neighbors, and colleagues fighting this War on Terror. Let's raise our voices loud and clear that we support the troops and can win this war in Iraq! 

A realistic goal, especially if we allow the finest military in the world to take their gloves off and conduct a tactical war that would bring the enemy in Iraq to their knees.  Unfortunately, innocent people may get hurt in the process, but we'd complete our mission with honor and avoid many of the ghosts that haunt us now from the Vietnam era..you know...the ones politicians frequently remind us about daily with the media's help.

I felt President Bush's response to Senator Reid's remarks were dignified and articulated well before an audience yesterday in Ohio. 

One closing thought to mull over:
Just recently I listened to one of those audio books titled the Memoirs of Major Dick Winters, you probably remember his story from the mini-series titled Band of Brothers which aired on HBO.  When I think back now about the campaigns he and Easy Company fought in during World War II within the European Theater, I shudder to think how they would have responded to such negative comments from a member of the House or Senate (especially the Senate Majority Leader) announcing publicly that we're going to lose the war in Europe.  Back then responsible politicians didn’t do things like that...we're Americans for crying out loud!  We're supposed to be on the same team aren’t we?  Politicians...NUTS!

Comments

[Merle J. Parise Lt USN RET US Submarine Veteran]

Shame on you Harry. You don't deserve the office of the Senate.GO HOME!and bury your head in the sand.
Merle J. Parise LT USN RET United States Submarine Veteran

[THOMAS WILLIAMS]

WHAT CAN BE SAID OTHER THAN HE SHOULD STEP DOWN NOW AND TKE NANCY WITH HIM. HARRY YOU ARE A DISGUSTING PERSON, HOW DO YOU SLEEP?

[ANNE BERNS]

SENATOR REID IT IS TIME YOU HANG UP YOUR CAREER AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS COUNTRY IN AS MUCH AS YOU HAVE HUNG UP YOUR SHINGLE AS A PROPONENT OF AL QUIEDA. YOU NO LNGER SEEM TO WANT TO BE A CITIZEN OF THE USA AND YOU ARE A TRAITOR AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH ALONG WITH NANCY PELOSI AND THE REST OF YOUR COHORTS.

EITHER START BEING A TRUE AMERICAN AND STAND UP FOR YOUR COUNTRY INSTEAD OF THE TERRORISTS OR LEAVE AND GO LIVE WITH THEM IN IRAN. I AM SURE THAT THEY WOULD LET YOU TRASH TALK THEIR COUNTRY LIKE YOU DO AMERICA. NOT!!!

[Margarita Keeferstein]

Any truth to the rumor of GIs signaling that if they die in Iraq that they desire to have their remains (ashes) dropped on or spread over President Bush's Texas ranch or personally delivered to him by a surviving family member? I've heard that the thinking is: he's responsible for them being killed therefore he owns them. I guess this is akin to the administration’s you break it you own it policy.

[BradMan]

HAS NOT ANYONE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION! GEORGE W.BUSH AND DICK CHENEY NEVER WALKED IN A SOLDIERS SHOES! THE BIG QUESTION IS,DURING THE VIETNAM ERA, WERE THEY ANTI-WAR OR JUST PLAIN CHICKEN SH!T !!! MY GUESS IS THEY WERE NOT ANTI-WAR,SOOO THAT LEAVES ONLY ONE ANSWER?! HOW PATRIOTIC OF THEM!!! SHAME ON ANY VETERAN'S THAT SUPPORT THESE PRETENDERS!!! YOU ARE EASILY SWAYED BY CORRUPTION!!!

[Thom Blas]

An open letter to Harry Reid, Senator.

Dear Senator Reid:

It must asked that you, with the courage of your convictions, to specifically pick the particular American Serviceman who is to be the last to die in Iraq. Who deserves this honor? Since you personally declared the war, lost who is going to be the last person to waste his life in that theater?

Senator Reid, let me ask if in the darkest days of early 1942 with the fall of Wake Island, Bataan, Corregidor, the ascension of both Japan and Germanys military might would you declare that war lost? Would you say on the bloody day of the invasion of Iwo Jima with thousands of brave U.S. Marines scattered over the black sand beaches dead and dying that the war was lost? On the stormy morning 6 June 44 on a French beach code named Omaha with thousands dead and dying the war is lost? Would you like to tell my father in December 1944 trapped in the cross road city of Bastonge the war is lost? Would you tell those dead Marines at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and Okinawa, during the bloodiest days of the war that the War was lost? Would you like to tell my uncle who was in the relief column attacking Pork Chop Hill, don’t bother the war is lost? Would you, with the courage of your convictions, call my Godmother and tell her who lost her Marine grandson on the third day of the Iraq war that it is too bad since the War is Lost?

Your statements about concern for the troop’s rings hollow when you alert the enemy that the war is lost. Your concern for the troops rings hollow when you fill a military funding bill with non related funding for “Pork” projects knowing the Bill will be vetoed just to embarrass not only the President but the Country. Your statements ring hollow to the American fighting man when you say you “support the troops but not the mission”, the equivalent of “we like you but not what we asked you to do.”

Senator Reid is your thirst for power, your hatred for the President so great that you are willing to use our troop’s shed blood as the coin of the realm for payback to the America haters you want to curry?

Senator Reid you didn’t show leadership yesterday you weakened a Nation. You have the power granted by the Constitution to bring forth a Bill to stop all funding for this War immediately. Since you personally declared the War lost, do you have the courage to do just that? Do you have the courage to grant victory to those who have already murdered thousands of Americans and Hundreds of thousands of others? What you don’t have in my copy of the Constitution is the right to play Commander-in-Chief. What you don’t have is the right to play tactician or strategist in matters of war. You have the power of the purse, if you have the courage, use it.

Senator Reid, each night when the President goes to bed he must suffer the grief he feels for all he sent into battle. From yesterday forward you now own the blood of each American, Ally, and innocent person in the world who dies because of an emboldened terrorist. You now officially own defeat.

For political expediency you sold out your country. Judas got 30 pieces of silver. I realize the futility of trying to change a hardened heart but sir, I own my soul, and for “Duty, Honor, Country” owed it to our brave Military.

Sincerely,

Thomas E. Blas
Gulf Breeze, Florida

[SHARON GURREN]

SENATOR REID, ARE YOU FOR REAL???? OUR ARMED SERVICES GIVE THEIR LIVES EVERYDAY AND DESIRE THE SUPPORT OF ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. I AM SO GLAD THAT I CAN NOT VOTE FOR YOU. I WOULD GLADLY MAKE YOU A GARBAGE ADVOCATE!!!

[Don Grantonic]

Harry Reid should resign. He is a discrace to the American people. His typical democrat/liberal remarks that are chosen specifically to undermine every true American Patriot's high spirited ambition that has made this country the best in the world is being trashed by the scum that resides on the left. The left wingers are nothing but a bunch of power mongers and they will do what ever it takes to get back in power, even if it means sacrificing every thing America stands for. With remarks that Harry Reid has made does nothing for America, but emboldens the enemy. He should be charged with treason that traitor. God bless our troops.

[Richard Hernandez]

Reid's quoted statement was taken out of context. Before one complains they should have all the facts.
There are 2 solutions to the crisis in the mid east.
(1) We stop protecting mid east and arabian oil and become self reliant on our own energy capabilities. We can stop using mid east oil by converting to solar power and tidal power. Converting to electric cars which are now available. Take a look at the Tesla motors car. It is fast, efficient and pollution free. Check their web site. It is fairly expensive now but if mass produced the cost would come down. Too many wars are fought and lives lost because of the oil lobbyists. We don't need the blood oil. The wars and decension in the mid east have been ongoing for centuries and we are not going to bring about peaceful democracy in the region. Let's leave them to their world of constant war.
(2) Another solution that would save time, money and American lives would be to nuke the countries of Iran, Iraq and Syria. I call this method "TRUMANIZATION". OF COURSE WE WOULD PULL ALL OF TROOPS OUT FIRST WITHOUT WARNING. World wide the muslims would be in an uproar. Our reply to the uproar would be. Shut up, keep the peace or we will nuke you also. Muslims do not negotiate in good faith but they do understand power and violence.

[Rick McAlister, Msgt USAF(Ret)]

In my opinion Sen Harry Reid is a treasoness coward. He may not have given physical aid to the enemies, but he sure has given comfort. How dare he presume to speak for the secretary of state or the secretary of defense.I served my country for 20years and would gladly serve another 20 years if I could.He should be removed for office.

[Lee Hussin]

This man is traitor, and should be brought up on charges of aiding and abetting the enemy. He and others like him are only giving comfort and hope to those would end the world as we know it. We are in a fight for our life and these idiots only see gain for themselves in there rhetoric. I, like so many others, have remained silent to their railings but the time has come to be heard. Our elected officials are either supporting this nation or supporting the enemy, if its the enemy then charges should be forthcomming.

[B.J. Adams]

I am an embarrassed citizen of Nevada. Embarrassed that Harry "hang it up" Reid has dishonored his office and his own citizenship by giving the enemy the braqging rights to winning the war. When Harry campaigned for re-election in Nevada he was very careful to hide the fact that he was even a Democrat. He campaigned as Harry Reid, The Independent Candidate. Democrats were not popular that year. How I wish I had been there when he was an alleged boxer as a youth. First round: Ok I quit. Nobody told me I was actually going to get hit.

Harry, hang it up. You have disgraced yourself, the senate, and the citizens of Nevada. Enough is enough. Resign.

[Bill Mouro]

I am so upset with his comments. If there was a way to remove him from office next election. I would do so. He is an insult to our troops and the democratic party. Where do these yoyo's come from. Allowing our Troops to be pawns. He must think by saying this he will win votes dont think so! Its time for all of us to speak up and tell this Senator
HE IS DEAD WRONG!. He is giving comfort and aid to the enemy. Not to mention all those that have died in this war, guess in his eyes its ok, they all died in vain. Unless we follow through. WE CAN WIN THIS WAR! If we leave we will be back. And it will be REAL war then. Dont like the thought of what Iran might do in conjuction with Iraq as well as other countrys over there that would love to kill us. And have the capibility to use ATOMIC WEAPONS here in the
GOOD OLE USA, as well as other countrys, that are our allies.

[shaggydog1939]

These kinds of comments, in my opinion, are a clear indicaiton of the treasoness mind set of the democratic party as a whole, this is aiding and abbeting the enemy in that it gives them comfort and aid in believing that we are going to wave the white flag. You, and those like you, do not speak for me and when they show up on these shores to claim their war prize I will be on the font line to drive it home that a misunderstanding has occured. You sir, will be cowering in your little hole counting on someone else to save your sorry butt. Now if you dont have anything constructive to say, keep your mouth shut. I have not any of your kind come up with a way of ensuring the safty of either us here at home or those that will get slaughtered if we pull out. Until the read the instructions above.

[With eyes & ears wide open]

...Freedom of speech anyone???... You are so caught up in defending the worst 'president' (lol!...or cry...), the biggest thief & assassin in American history, that you forget the First Amendment... FREEDOM OF SPEECH?

Unfortunate for you, most Americans agree with their First Amendment rights and with the fact that Bush is a disgrace not just as 'president' but as a human being in itself.

If you believe George W Bush to be "articulate" and "dignified", your credibility went where 'W' should be, in the toilet.

(Just practicing my 1st Amendment rights, since I have not forgotten them)... I will not be checking in on this blog again... so have the courage to tare this apart! Have fun!!!

[jemmytee]

The war in Iraq was lost the moment Rumsfeld refused to send in enough troops to control the country and only barely equipped those troops who DID go in. Anyone who's done any sort of research into the history of that region would have known better. Instead, we had an arrogant twerp kow-towing to people who've never been in uniform and making decisions that should have been made by someone who actually CARED about the men and women putting their lives on the line. Our soldiers are doing a great job under impossible circumstances, no thanks to Bush and company. Reid's words may have been blunt and too public, but the reality is that years of incompetence at the highest level have set us up for this catastrophe, and now those responsible are doing everything they can to keep from being shackled to it. Reid's not the one who lost this war; Bush, Cheney, Rumsefeld, Wolfowitz, Bremer, Rice and even Colin Powell (by letting them get away with it) cost us a victory in Iraq. Blame them for this mess, not those who are childishly pointing it out.

[John Trippon]

Harry Reed, SHAME on YOU! You are NOT an American, you are a TRAITOR to this country!
Your small mind is encased in that small body that has just one function,to be a trouble maker. Did the people of Nevada send you to Washington to build our country up? Or to tear it down like you are doing. You vicious little man You spend all of your time attacking the white house and not doing what the people of Nevada sent you to Washington to do. Look at your news clippings, you will see a snarly little devil.

[Fausto Ciciliot]

The open letter to Senator Reid, written by Thomas E. Blas hit the nail squarely on the head! It was written from truth, it was written from the Heart and should be posted for ALL to see. I believe the majority of the American people want to succeed in Iraq, it makes sense for future generations to have a stable Middle East. We can argue about how the war has been fought, but if we were united and not divided we would send a much different signal to radical elements that now see hope because of people like Mr. Reid.

[Lisa Stevens]

I agree with the fact that U.S. forces should not be in Iraq and should not have been there in the first place. I do however disagree with the "the war is lost comment" I also disagree with the "we can win the war in Iraq" comments made by the Bush administration. There is nothing to win and lots to lose. But it's no longer our "war". We brought down Hussein. That was the end of our war and the beginning of a civil war conflict. Which was bubbling under the surface for a very long time. We can't pick sides, not if we want a united Iraq.

The only thing that we ARE succeeding in here is fostering hatred of America, and putting our troops further at risk by making them bigger targets. So, WIN WHAT?!?! And if we are losing, it's the lives of our soldiers we are losing. We should be telling our brave men and women "Thank you, for doing your part to give birth to Democracy in Iraq. But now we need to leave, and let them make their own choices. That is the fundamental purpose of Democracy.

And haven't Democrats repeatedly stated "we support our troops"? EVERYONE supports the troops. No one wants to lose American lives.

And while I don't personally think that using the phrase "we lost in Iraq" is correct. I believe that a good senator or congressman, sticks to his beliefs, and voices them. He debates them in assembly and exercises his free speech. That is the foundation this country is built upon.

[Stewart T. Orr]

How can you win with trators like Reid. Kill a GI a day and the Dems will run with out thought to the future (Past elections)

[Jerry Hesselink]

Maybe President Bush would announce that he has now called a SECRET meeting with congressional leadership to establish time lines to withdraw, however, they have been classified "TOP SECRET". All have sworn to this agreement and we still have an answer to stop killing our children in war. I would really be accepting of our government process should this type action take place. No announcement of times would be made to the public but I would know that our full leadership had worked it out and will happen on time.

[David]

If the war is lost, Senator Reid, then perhaps we could prevail upon you to go to Iraq and tell the 146,000 men and women currently serving there that we are surrendering. Be sure and let them know that although you "support the troops", they failed in their mission.

If indeed the war is lost as you stated, then you have an obligation to immediately withdraw our troops from Iraq. If you fail to do so, sir, then I suggest your statement was made for purely political purposes or you have completely lost all contact with reality and should be confined to the closest mental institution.

Sedition was the word that immediately came to mind when I heard your remarks.

[Bruce Liu]

Would you all rather have someone represent you who realizes the gravity and reality of this situation and speak the truth, however unpopular? Or would you continue to believe in the lies of this present administration and send more of the underprivilaged youth of our country off to war?
I'm not gonna change any minds here, I know. But whatever the official outcome this conflict will be pronounced as by the powers that be, in the end, will most likely make-up most people's minds about whether it was a good fight or an unjust occupation. So when you make your comparison to WWII or Korea, or Vietnam, please consider the historical facts that lead up to those conflicts in more detail and less partisanship.
Might does indeed, not make right (at least I hope). And we are not right on this one. And we are not winning...except maybe more exclusive contracts for Bush and Cheney's business pals in that part of the world.

[bambi1950]

What Reid should have stated is that President Bush has lost this war. This is beyond obvious. No one, least of all, Sen. Reid, thinks that the troops have lost the war. They have done a superb job, however, they have had an incompetent Commander-in-Cheif from the beginning. How does BUSH sleep at night, I wonder??? He should be impeached, as should the rest of his completely imcompetent staff. He is an utter disgrace, truly the worst President we have ever had...a distinction I had believed to be held by Nixon until now.

[mike larson]

Some of my old friends have wondered why after so many years of being a hardcore democrat 1972-1993 I gave up on them. Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Ried are as good as it gets. Retro active taxation (1993)and Trying to screw up a pretty good health care system also comes to mind. But this unbridled disrespect for our armed forces and the constant giving aid and comfort to our enemies with their self serving retoric puts them in a place I can no longer go.