Washblog

Brian Baird Says Stay but (R) Rep Jim Walsh, NY, back from Iraq says Withdraw troops

By Lietta Ruger
Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 09:18:16 AM PST
Section: Stories In Progress Topic: Legislative performance

Dear Rep. Brian Baird,

 How do you square your analysis after your recent trip to Iraq with Rep Jim Walsh, who also just returned from Iraq just this Monday, even with General Patraeus report yesterday and has this analysis:

"Before I went, I was not prepared to say it's time to start bringing our troops home," Walsh said. "I am prepared to say that now. It's time."

Walsh's announcement came as Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq, told House members that the troop "surge" has made progress.

But Walsh said he saw little evidence that much has changed in Iraq since he last visited four years ago. He said he hopes to meet with President Bush to convey his change of heart.

(from article 'Walsh says it's time to withdraw troops' by Erin Kelly, Washington correspondent)

sincerely,

Lietta Ruger,
military family in Pacific County, WA - 3rd Congressional District - WA
with 2 returning Iraq veterans, both from WA
one leaving next month for his second 15 month deployment in Iraq  

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Brian Baird Says Stay but (R) Rep Jim Walsh, NY, back from Iraq says Withdraw troops | 7 comments (7 topical)
here's why ... in part
In 2006, Jim Walsh barely hung onto his seat in the House.  Dan Maffei, his strong (and strongly anti-Iraq War) opponent in that race, is running again in 2008.

NY-25 is a major Democratic target for 2008, at least as high a priority as WA-08.  

You're only young once, but you can be immature forever -- Larry Andersen
Blogging at Peace Tree Farm

by N in Seattle on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 12:23:06 PM PST

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Surge?
   I now seems clear to me that the major purpose of the surge was and is to raise the troop level in Iraq. Now, they can start "withdrawal" by next summer, probably around convention(s) time(s) and show a "significant" reduction.
   All the way back to pre-surge levels :( Probably Rove's idea.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Tue Sep 11, 2007 at 07:12:00 PM PST

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Baird
It's sad, he's my Congressman.  He voted right on the war and now we get this.  No political advantage for him doing this so he must actually believe the words out of his mouth.

by mstaley3000 on Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 01:26:13 AM PST

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Lietta, we need your help!
Hi Lietta, Jeff Richardson from America in Solidarity here.

We are putting together this Northwest Progressive Convention for this coming November 10th, and we still don't have a keynote speaker!

One of the major issues we're wrestling with is how to end this war in Iraq, and we believe that having a strong keynote speaker with credibility on this war issue will bring out enough people to help us build an effective resistance response here in Pierce County.

Can you and your contacts find someone with the name recognition of a Watada, Sheehan or Camilo Mejia to speak to our Convention?  We could really use your help.

Also, if you or MFSO or any other organization helps us land a speaker or a panelist, you will be able to table for free, even selling items for donations in our lobby.  Since we're trying to just break even on this event, that's about the best we can offer.

Also, anyone else reading this is welcome to contact us at www.americasolidarity.org - my name is Jeff Richardson and, up until recently, I was the active blogger over at The Tahoma Activist.

Thanks for all your work, and hope to hear from you soon!

by Tahoma Activist on Sun Sep 16, 2007 at 11:45:46 AM PST

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Brian Baird Says Stay but (R) Rep Jim Walsh, NY, back from Iraq says Withdraw troops | 7 comments (7 topical)
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