Mark Pryor's Dr. Strangelove Diplomacy Posted by Ilan Goldenberg

Thank God Chuck Hagel and Gordon Smith voted to keep the withdrawal language in the Iraq supplemental.  If they hadn’t one of the more important debates in the Senate in recent memory would have been decided by one of the worst ideas I’ve heard in quite a while.  The key defection on the Democratic side was Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas.  The reason he refused to support it?  Not because he fundamentally disagreed with withdrawing troops but because he believes that publicly declaring a date certain would give an advantage to the enemy.  Instead Pryor proposes a “secret plan” to withdraw from Iraq. 

First, of all his plan misses the entire point.  The logic behind setting a date certain is to make clear to the Iraqis and their neighbors that we are getting ready to leave and that they have to step up.  The point is to gain political and diplomatic leverage.  You don’t really get much political leverage if you can’t tell anyone about it!!

Second, he seems to think that we can tell the Iraqi government and they’ll keep it secret.  Exactly which Iraqi government is he talking about?  The one that is so splintered that a number of its members are aligned with various militias including a few that have close relationships with Iran.  Meanwhile, other members clearly have some ties into the Sunni insurgency. 

Finally and this is my favorite.  We have a secret plan to move 150,000 troops and all of their equipment halfway around the world (Or at least to neighboring countries).  Do you think our enemies in Iraq will notice?  This isn’t exactly one of those here today gone tomorrow operations.

Seriously people.  For a few hours there it looked like the guy supporting this plan was going to decide the Senate’s position on Iraq.   The whole concept just reminds me of those immortal words of Dr. Strangelove 

Of course, the whole point of a Doomsday Machine is lost, if you *keep* it a *secret*! Why didn't you tell the world, EH?

Comments

[Dwayne Goode, Ph.D.]

I am very proud of Mark Pryor of Arkansas for voting his feelings and I hope he will continue for what he believes is right and good for our country

[Kevin Bryant, USN (RET)]

Mr Goldenberg, are you suffering from shell shock? It must bother you immensely that someone from the democratic party would actually have the ability to think for themself and not just jump on the Reid - Pelosi bandwagon and follow their lead like the most of the good little democrat minions & YOURSELF. Sen. Pryor has something that I doubt you will ever have.....MORALS!!!!!!!

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