Fossella contradicted by General Patraeus

via CNN;

"There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq, to the insurgency of Iraq," Petraeus told a news conference, adding that political negotiations were crucial to forging any lasting peace.

In case you haven't kept up with all the general rotations in and out or Iraq, General Petraeus is commander of Multinational Force Iraq (MNF-I), the four-star post that oversees all U.S. forces in the country.

Our words have consequences, as powerful as our actions. We must choose them carefully for they are being listened to all over the world.

Hear that General? From now on please make sure Fossella signs off on any public comments of yours ahead of time so you don't fly off the handle like that again. That quote of course is Rep. Vito Fossella on the floor of the House explaining why funding measures to ensure the safety of our troops is such a horrible plan. I wonder when Fossella will go after Patraeus with the same vitrol he attacked Democrats for supposedly harming troops with their comments.

With an open mind I have spent hours this week listening to the debate. Like many Americans I was willing to listen to new ideas and explore a new course in Iraq.

Ah Vito your uncanny sense of humor really makes blogging enjoyable. After all it was the members of the Iraq Study Group who outlined needs aside from military force as a means to attempt to quell the fiasco that has turned into a civil war in Iraq. They suggested diplomacy and as part of the Republican majority in Congress you helped make sure a vote approving their findings never made it to the floor of the House (you were busy occupying it talking about stamps after all).

"There is no action the American military can take that, by itself, can bring about success in Iraq." (Iraq Study Group, page 70)

Rep. Fossella complains about and votes against the House Supplemental bill which provides funding for troop safety.
The Iraq Strategy Group suggests things like diplomacy and Rep. Fossella supports Republican efforts to not vote on it.
Is there a plan that Rep. Vito Fossella will not oppose?

Fossella supports Bush's partisan stall tactics

Back in February when Congress was discussing a new strategy for Iraq, and put forward a Supplemental bill that among other things required troops training, preparedness and benchmarks Iraq needed to met, Fossella bravely stood up on the floor of the House attacking the plan, with these remarks (via the SI Advance);

With an open mind I have spent hours this week listening to the debate. Like many Americans I was willing to listen to new ideas and explore a new course in Iraq.

But an opportunity was wasted because all I have heard is “no” from the other side. I have not heard a plan…nor have I heard a strategy.

Apparently Fossella has forgotten that as part of the Republican majority that controlled Congress, he voted for this war, and voted to authorize the President to have a blank check to do as he pleased all in the name of the war on terror. Despite that, he thinks it is Democrats job to produce an alternative plan (we got you into this, now you get us out), which in part I commend he for. After all this is nothing short of realizing Americans voted for a change, especially in Iraq and not more of the same. While Fossella attacks Democrats for not having a plan, then voting against their plan, he continues to stand behind President Bush. Via Yahoo News;

President Bush, standing firmly against a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, said Tuesday that he will veto the latest war spending bill taking shape in Congress.

"I'm disappointed that the Democratic leadership has chosen this course," Bush said.

"They chose to make a political statement," he said. "That's their right but it is wrong for our troops and it's wrong for our country. To accept the bill proposed by the Democratic leadership would be to accept a policy that directly contradicts the judgment of our military commanders."

So Rep. Vito Fossella with that open mind of yours you talk about, why is it that you support President Bush and oppose a new course of action in Iraq? It appears a great opportunity is indeed wasted, to borrow your words, because all I hear from you and Bush is vetoing a plan you have been asking for.