Democrats Demand 'Straight Talk' on Iraq

Sat Mar 22, 2008 1:02 PM EDT

politics, iraq, democrats, robert-menendez

WASHINGTON — With U.S. troops entering their sixth year of combat in Iraq, New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez demanded Saturday that President Bush give an honest assessment of the costs of the conflict.

"The American people are still waiting to hear the straight talk we deserve," Menendez said in the Democrats' weekly radio address. "Instead of making more sweeping claims of victory, as he did this week, it's time for the president to face the reality of the situation we're in."

In a speech Wednesday at the Pentagon, Bush said, "The world is better, and the United States of America is safer" because of the war.

"No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure," Bush said. "But those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq."

Menendez responded, "President Bush should tell us the truth — that after thousands of lives lost and perhaps trillions of American taxpayer dollars, Iraq remains crippled by violence and corruption, still light-years from building a stable government or a lasting peace."

The senator argued that the war "has severely depleted the resources and morale of our armed forces" and said Bush should acknowledge "that because of Iraq, we haven't finished the job in Afghanistan, al-Qaida is regrouping and our hunt for America's No. 1 enemy — Osama bin Laden — has been compromised."

Menendez also linked the cost of the war to the United States' faltering economy. "Instead of building barracks in Iraq, we could be helping millions of Americans avoid losing their homes to foreclosure," he said. "Instead of policing the streets of Baghdad, we could be investing in universal health care and a better education system."

6 Votes
Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Published to:

Associated Press's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: none
Regions: United States , Iraq , Afghanistan , Washington DC

Public Discussion (5)

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

3.0

{"commentId":1608733,"authorDomain":"awudi"}

awudi

Amen and Super Amen

{"commentId":1608733,"threadId":"238616","contentId":"1383695","authorDomain":"awudi"}

#1 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:41 PM EDT

{"commentId":1608735,"authorDomain":"awudi"}

awudi

Amen And Super Amen

{"commentId":1608735,"threadId":"238616","contentId":"1383695","authorDomain":"awudi"}

#2 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":1608749,"authorDomain":"jeremys"}

Jeremy Shane

I don't think we will be getting any straight talk on Iraq until another president is elected and then only maybe depending on who it is.

{"commentId":1608749,"threadId":"238616","contentId":"1383695","authorDomain":"jeremys"}

4 votes

#3 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:45 PM EDT

{"commentId":1609537,"authorDomain":"stan-smith"}

Nathaniel Smith

This war in Iraq commenced with a clever piece of deception that attracted the support of elected officials from both parties. The opponents of this war were few in comparison. The entire world watched with awe the swift and professional approach of the world's greatest army. I was so impressed with the images of glory of our men and women in uniform and felt proud that they were liberating a people from an oppressive regime and ridding the world of dangerous terrorists.
What we see now is an army bogged down with a reduced sense of purpose as a result their Commander -in-Chief 's great deception. The world sees us as warmongers and our allies are very wary of joining in the theatre where it matters most(Afghanistan). Iraq is the proverbial millstone around the necks of the American people and will continue to be so unless a formula for withdrawal is quickly devised and implemented. John McCain may have argued for a surge but that is no reason to say we are winning the war. The only victory can be an American withdrawal and an Iraq exercising its sovereignty with the support of the international community. The hollow victory of the surge being sold to the American people is another of the Bush's appeal to the American spirit of "never surrender". Reminds me of an old saying" Where there is no vision a people perishes"

{"commentId":1609537,"threadId":"238616","contentId":"1383695","authorDomain":"stan-smith"}

#4 - Sat Mar 22, 2008 7:46 PM EDT

{"commentId":1613136,"authorDomain":"bobneve1"}

Wizeguy

"No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure," Bush said. "But those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq."

How about if we send Jenna there to get her privliged butt blown off. Lets see how necessary the cost would be. War is a rich mans game played by poor people.

I would like to see him and the rest of his Monkey Sticks indicted for war crimes and crimes agaisnt hiumanity. Taken to the World Court and put on display ala the Nazi war criminals of WW II

{"commentId":1613136,"threadId":"238616","contentId":"1383695","authorDomain":"bobneve1"}

#5 - Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:53 AM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"238616","isPrivate":false}

	Democratic Weekly Address Calls For Truth on Iraq War	AP	Sat Mar 22	1
	Democrats Link Bad Economy to Iraq War	politicususa.com	Sat Mar 22	0

Backyard

Democrats Demand 'Straight Talk' on Iraq

Published to:

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF: