Solid evidence that Republicans are signaling an end to support for the Iraq War has emerged over this past week. Republican centrists and those in leadership positions have revealed serious discontent for the current war and are hinting at alternatives to long-term deployment.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict that the beginning phases will begin this year that will begin a long and slow withdrawal from Iraq. There will be no escalation beyond the surge. The surge is not showing significant results today and will likely not show them tomorrow. Republicans, who are now signaling that a September report of the Iraq Generals will make or break their future support for the Iraq conflict. It’s the opening, those who don’t wish to see the Republican Party die a painful death, are looking for, and that would constitute most of the elected Republican officials in office today outside of the White House.
Dick Cheney may not care about the Republican Party’s future, but for damn sure the rest of the party does.
The future of their party depends on ending this war. Therefore, being cynical and realistic here, I believe the centrist wing of the Republicans will go along with the Democrats efforts to end the war by the end of this year.
It’s peace with honor all over again. A phased withdrawal that will keep the killing fields open with a virtual banner reading: “going out of business” over the entrance. Countless lives will be lost as politicians nestled in their cozy office chairs discuss an end to the disastrous war they’ve started.
Who knows? The war could be won by September, but the most likely outcome is defeat for the U.S. and there’s nothing worse for politicians than a defeat that is dragged out longer.
For this reason, the war’s end will begin, trying to paint the happiest face to what will someday be called the biggest blunder in American history.
