Michelle Malkin » Another Democrat visits Iraq, sees success…and will soon be a MoveOn punching bag

Another Democrat visits Iraq, sees success…and will soon be a MoveOn punching bag

By Michelle Malkin • December 19, 2007 08:01 PM

A funny thing happens when open-minded Democrats visit Iraq and take a good look at what’s happening on the ground. They see continued signs of success–and they come home willing to spread the news. Democrat Rep. Joe Donnelly of Indiana follows in the footsteps of Washington Democrat Rep. Brian Baird (hat tip - Ed Morrissey):

U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly returned from a second trip to Iraq in five months encouraged that the mission there is going better and that by 2009 the U.S. military’s role could be primarily as trainers and advisers.

“I feel we’ve made progress, and the other part is I feel we can see an end game in sight,” Donnelly, D-Ind., told reporters on a conference call Tuesday from Washington. “It isn’t we just keep plugging away in the hopes something will turn out right. Gen. (David) Petraeus is working a plan and we seem to be heading toward a place where the Iraqis can be self-sustaining and we’ll have a smaller presence in the background.”

Donnelly’s findings were in stark contrast to his visit to Iraq last July, when he said the only positive thing that happened in that country since the beginning of the war in March 2003 was the ouster of Saddam Hussein.

Donnelly met with members of Company F of the 151st Infantry, an Indiana National Guard unit from South Bend, who told him that in the past 60 days life in Iraq has gotten safer.
“Things are better than they were in their first few months of deployment,” Donnelly said. Donnelly, who traveled to Iraq with Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., Rep. Phil English, R-Pa., and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said the congressional delegation heard the same thing from Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq.

“In his view, things have improved almost across the board,” Donnelly said. “There’s a confidence and a feeling the progress is being made and there is an end in sight to our significant military presence.”

What an astonishing change of heart. Listen to Donnelly on the House floor in July opposing the surge (”I fear this surge will not lead to an Iraq that will be stable over the long term, but will instead put more than 21,500 American troops into harm’s way”):

MoveOn, which has waged a vicious campaign against Rep. Baird since he returned from Iraq in August and announced his support for the surge, is no doubt preparing anti-Donnelly ad hits as we speak. Must. Not. Allow. Democrat. Dissent.

Posted in: Iraq, MoveOn.org

Send to a Friend
Printer Friendly

comments (22)

trackbacks (3)

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Trackbacks

Trackback URL

Comments

#1

On December 19th, 2007 at 8:03 pm, ACHefty said:

A matter of time, and only Soros and his group will be left stating their opposition to the war after it has been finished victoriously!

Go USMC!
#2

On December 19th, 2007 at 8:12 pm, backwoods conservative said:

I once heard someone say, “The truth will set you free but it’ll p*$$ you off real bad first.”

Poor PO’d democrats.
#3

On December 19th, 2007 at 8:13 pm, John Ansell said:

And Hillary’s apology to Gen. Petraeus will come when? Waiting…..Waiting…..waiting….goingto hold my breath…..Hillary?……are you there Hillary?……..Bill? Are you They? waiting….waiting…..patience is the virtue of a Republican…….waiting….waiting………..I’m still waiting…Apology Hillary???? Say it, just few words Hillary….spit it out, “I’m sorry Gen. Petraeus for calling you a liar” Practice along Hillary, I’m.Sorry..Gen. Petraeus.
#4

On December 19th, 2007 at 8:16 pm, zorro said:

I am pleased Rep. Joe Donnelly visited his state’s troops in Iraq. But with democraps, their lust for power outweighs everything, including loyalty. The traitors at Moveon will influence the alleged democrap leadership and soon enough Mr. Donnelly and the others will be on the outside looking in.
#5

On December 19th, 2007 at 8:22 pm, John Ansell said:

NY Times, would you also like to apologize to Gen. Petraeus along with Hillary???? Was the money for that disgusting ad worth it? (before you answer, look at your stock)Waiting for you and Hillary to apologize.
#6

On December 19th, 2007 at 8:25 pm, DesertLover said:

Semper Fi ACHefty …

Amazing how once these clowns go to Iraq themselves instead of following the Al-Qaeda Times line of BS that they come back with a totally different opinion of what is going on there …
#7

On December 19th, 2007 at 8:41 pm, Blind_Mule said:

They just found a cash of weapon’s 50 grenades, 100 land mines and a torture house in a small town al qaeda was terrorizing apparently trying to regain a foothold but the incredible Devil Dog’s show up and kick ars once again. UHRA!
Even when we win this thing completly the Move On crowd will still claim defeat.
#8

On December 19th, 2007 at 8:45 pm, trinitytim said:

God bless our troops. Victory will be ours.

The truth will set you free but the Democratic truth will cost you money if you’re running for re-election and SurrenderOn.org pulls their donations.

Way to go Joe.

BTW, “Open Minded” and “Democrat” are words that I never thought I’d see used in the same sentence. Good to see that I was wrong.
#9

On December 19th, 2007 at 9:01 pm, Boomer said:

On December 19th, 2007 at 8:45 pm, trinitytim said:
BTW, “Open Minded” and “Democrat” are words that I never thought I’d see used in the same sentence. Good to see that I was wrong.

Same here. It is very refreshing to see our troops get the credit they are due. The Petraus plan is working because of this generation of heroes and their dedication to WIN! Wonderful to see someone from the other side of the aisle to have the guts to admit it.
#10

On December 19th, 2007 at 9:23 pm, AlohaGuy said:

Donnelly met with members of Company F of the 151st Infantry, an Indiana National Guard unit from South Bend

Funny how armed voters can change your mind.
#11

On December 19th, 2007 at 9:34 pm, TexasTiger said:

A picture is worth a thousand words and Mike Ramirez is one of the best.
#12

On December 19th, 2007 at 9:37 pm, navywife91 said:

Alohaguy, I can always count on your posts to make me laugh.
#13

On December 19th, 2007 at 10:27 pm, CommentGuy said:

Interrogation centers in Iraq now have pictures of Pelosi, Boxer and Clinton on the wall the prisoner has to stare at.

Alleged torture investigations to start tomorrow.
#14

On December 19th, 2007 at 10:29 pm, CommentGuy said:

Just to show how unhinged the far left is my RSS reader just popped up a post from one of the ultra left blogs that declared CSPAN a right wing noise machine.

You can’t even make this stuff up.
#15

On December 20th, 2007 at 12:14 am, Radiojoe1470 said:

Makes me almost feel there’s hope for the Democratic party yet.

Almost.

But it is really good and heartening to see evidence of people on either side of the aisle who are willing to both state their opinions right out, and speak up about the reality when it doesn’t fit their opinion. It says that here’s a man whose opinions are worth hearing out.
#16

On December 20th, 2007 at 2:10 am, ArmoredCAV said:

I sent an invitation to my representative to come visit this constituent of his in Iraq a couple of months ago, but he never answered. Strange, because I have always gotten an answer from him, even if only a form letter. He is, of course, (D).
#17

On December 20th, 2007 at 4:25 am, Papa Louie said:

“I feel we’ve made progress, and the other part is I feel we can see an end game in sight,” Donnelly, D-Ind., told reporters…

ArmoredCAV, you and your men must really be doing a teriffic job if even the Democrats are beginning to acknowledge your success! If only the rest of the Defeatocrats, like your Representative, would just end their arrogant, bunker mentality and open their eyes, maybe they, too, could see your success and stop staying the course toward surrender. Wouldn’t it be great if the whole country were to unite behind you guys and provide all the funding and support you need to finish the job and come home as victors?
#18

On December 20th, 2007 at 8:45 am, 30 pcs of silver said:

Happy, happy, joy, joy.

Proud of him for putting on his boots and taking a look see for himself on the gains our troops produced.

The Dems are playing catch up but it is nice to see them come around, even if it is one at a time.
#19

On December 20th, 2007 at 11:11 am, Army said:

I’m with ya Cav. Nobody visits this crappy little FOB, especially if they have an anti-American agenda.

The coalition based truth would smack them upside the head.
#20

On December 20th, 2007 at 11:32 am, ArmoredCAV said:

Army, Where are you?
#21

On December 21st, 2007 at 9:48 am, sfcmac said:

Nothing depresses the Dems more than victory.
HOOAH!
#22

On December 21st, 2007 at 6:58 pm, sherlock said:

I wonder what would happen if thousands of soldiers and Marines dropped their D congresstwits a line that said “You folks use government transportation for things like investigating the climate of Hawaii in December, so why don’t you use it to come over here and tell me how come you think I am losing this war, but I think I am winning it?”

No commander can prohibit his troops from contacting their elected Representatives and Senators, now can they?