7 Reasons Democrats Can't End the War
reason Contributing Editor Carolyn Lochhead, who works out of the SF Chronicle's Washington bureau, reports on why the Dems haven't bowed to the will of the American people and ended the war in Iraq:
Two-thirds of the country oppose the Iraq war, but Democrats again are proving unable to achieve their promised "new direction," and President Bush is certain to keep the maximum possible number of U.S. forces in Iraq for the remainder of his presidency.
At the end of a heavily reported story, she summarizes thus:
7 reasons Democrats cannot end the war in Iraq
1. Lack of votes: Democrats have 50 anti-war votes in the Senate. They need 60 to overcome Republican filibusters that have blocked every proposal to change the U.S. mission. Even if they cleared that hurdle, they lack the two-thirds majorities in the House and the Senate to overcome a presidential veto.
2. Public uncertainty: Two-thirds of the public want to leave Iraq, but that majority is unsure how and when to do so. Politicians also are wary that the public mood could shift.
3. Strategic uncertainty: No one knows what would happen if U.S. troops pull back, and the potential for bad outcomes is high no matter what the United States does.
4. Blame game: Democrats are afraid that if there is a withdrawal and Iraq spirals out of control, they will be blamed for losing a war that might have been won and will be held responsible for any bad consequences in the Middle East.
5. Lack of bipartisanship: Bipartisanship does not serve either party's political interest. Agreement blurs partisan distinctions, makes Democrats look like they are capitulating and forces Republicans to countenance an American defeat.
6. Guilt: Many Democrats believe the United States, having invaded Iraq, bears responsibility for stabilizing it.
7. The Constitution: If the United States were a parliamentary democracy, the Bush administration would have been replaced last November. But under the Constitution, the president is commander in chief, and Congress' only tool is to cut off funds for the war, which it can't do because there are not enough votes.
