Shock: Timetable, Deadline Proven To Lead To Spectacular Defeat & Encouragement of Enemy

George Bush on vetoing Congress' timetable for withdrawal, arguing announcing such a timetable demoralizes one's forces and concedes an enormous advantage to one's opponents:

It makes no sense to tell the enemy when you plan to start withdrawing. All the terrorists would have to do is mark their calendars and gather their strength -- and begin plotting how to overthrow the government and take control of the country of Iraq. I believe setting a deadline for withdrawal would demoralize the Iraqi people, would encourage killers across the broader Middle East, and send a signal that America will not keep its commitments. Setting a deadline for withdrawal is setting a date for failure -- and that would be irresponsible.

Liberals, realizing that Nancy Pelosi's announcement off a pre-Memorial Day deadline for passing a spending resolution seems to have demoralized Democratic forces and conceded an enormous advantage to their opponents:

Some activists had privately feared that Democratic leaders were losing their resolve to stage a protracted fight with the White House over wartime funding. Pelosi had announced earlier that the House would not leave for the Memorial Day recess without a new funding bill, a signal to some of a looming defeat.

"When they put out that deadline, people realized that we were going to lose," said an aide to an anti-war lawmaker. "Everything after that seemed like posturing.

That move gave Bush the upper hand in negotiations, the aide said, since it allowed him to wait out the Democrats while continuing to oppose attaching more restraints on the funds.

"There was no question that this was going to be the end result," the aide added.

Their announcement of a timetable for withdrawal from a fight with a patient opponent in the White House having resulted in catastrophic failure, Democrats went on to immediately call anew for a timetable of withdrawal from a fight with a patient opponent in Iraq.

Isn't it ironic, and in a genuine, non-Morissettian manner besides.

Thanks to Gekkobear.

posted by Ace at 07:36 PM

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