THE IRAQ STRADDLE….Jonathan Singer reports that the “Up for Reelection in 2008/Change of Heart on Iraq” Caucus has a new member:
Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., said today after a two-day trip to Iraq that he would not support an increase in the number of soldiers in Baghdad.
….He suggested the Iraqis meet certain benchmarks within a timeframe, such as moving the Iraqi military to the frontlines. If those benchmarks aren’t met, he said U.S. troops should accelerate pulling back — but not withdrawing from the country — and repositioning within Iraq.
This has got to be the most puerile position imaginable on Iraq. Withdrawal I understand. “One Last Push” I understand, even though I disagree with it. But just leaving things the way they are, even though they clearly aren’t working, and then “repositioning”? The fence-sitting cynicism involved in this position is staggering.
