Dean defends statement predicting loss in Iraq ("little out of context")

[sabra]

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1208IraqDemos08-ON.html

Dean defends statement predicting loss in Iraq

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean said Thursday his assertion that the United States cannot win the war in Iraq was reported "a little out of context," saying Democrats believe a new U.S. strategy is needed to succeed there.

Seeking to clarify a statement in a Texas radio interview that Republicans harshly assailed and some Democrats questioned, Dean said, "They kind of cheery-picked that one the same way the president cherry-picked the intelligence going into Iraq."

Dean was questioned on CNN about an interview he gave Monday to radio station WOAI in San Antonio. "The idea that we're going to win this war is an ideal that unfortunately is just plain wrong," the former Vermont governor and unsuccessful 2004 presidential candidate said. advertisement

...

On Thursday, Dean stressed at several junctures in the interview that Democrats support U.S. troops struggling to secure Iraq. He seemed to be striving to counter charges that statements by some Democrats suggesting a pullout are having the effect of undermining U.S. servicemen and women.

[NYCGirl]

1. Dean gives a good one-two punch!

Seeking to clarify a statement in a Texas radio interview that Republicans harshly assailed and some Democrats questioned, Dean said, "They kind of cheery-picked that one the same way the president cherry-picked the intelligence going into Iraq."

Very good!

[rodeodance]

9. agreed

[tuvor]

2. bush on his war of choice: "I don't think you can win it."

Suck on that, bushkissers.

[Wordie]

13. Send that to Olberman, and everyone else. It would be nice to see this

comment by Bush, side-by-side with his comments about Dean's statement. Very telling.

[Straight Shooter]

3. What's undermining the troops is knowing that incompetents are in charge.

All those rosy predictions about cheering and flowers and being out in 6 months to a year. Yippee! Let's kick Saddam's ass and find those WMD.

That was in 2003. March of 2003. What is truly undermining the troops? Failure and death, served by Little Boots and his Merry Band of Incompetents.

[Tamarin]

4. "They kind of cherry-picked that one the same way the president

cherry-picked the intelligence going into Iraq." Whooo Hoooo, good one, Dr. Dean! And, :kick:

[wtmusic]

5. Bugs me that he backed down

he spoke the truth, and then he pretended like he didn't speak the truth. "The idea that we're going to win this war is an *ideal*..."? He didn't say that.

[VegasWolf]

6. Me too! This makes him look wimpy. They will always cherry pick

any Democrats statements. We need to take a strong position, be firm, and let the country come to us. Because Dean is right, the war is NOT winnable. There can be no SUCCESS plan.

[rodeodance]

7. I heard his talk today and do not believe he backed down. He sounded

much like Murtha---wants the Nat. Guard to come home where they belong and re-deploy the troops to Afgan. Get them out of irag!!!

[rodeodance]

8. Dean is focusing on the real terrorists--not this conjured up Iraqi war.

..Asked Thursday to defend his statement in the Texas radio interview, Dean said: "It was a little out of context. ... We can only win if we change our strategy dramatically. ... We want to serve our troops well. They're doing a fantastic job in Iraq."

Dean charged that Bush is "going in the wrong direction. We'll go in the right direction and save soldiers lives while we're doing it."

"We can and we have to win the war on terror," the Democratic Party chairman added. "We can't do it with this kind of approach."

Asked about Lieberman's statement, Dean replied, "I am not as worried about the president's credibility. ... We need to redeploy our troops and stop making our troops the target over there. We believe that talking about the president's failed strategy is not unpatriotic. It may undercut the president but it does not undercut the troops. We are for the troops and we are going to support the troops."

[Cha]

10. This is Perfect!

"I'm not worried about the president's credibility"

Yeah, let lieberman stew about the monkey's credibility.

[wordpix]

14. Dean, don't do too much explaining---you are and were RIGHT about

going to Iraq in the first place and leaving there now.

[AlamoDemoc]

11. Never underestimate the DLC talking points...

DLC is undermining and planting talking points in the news against any Democrat who speaks against the Iraq war.

Thank you Mr.Dean. You are a true leader

[VegasWolf]

12. Dr. Dean represents me! nt

[Upfront]

15. Yes, And Me!

[Voltaire99]

16. Pretty quick about-face, Dean!

Didn't take long for his bosses to make him back-peddle on that one. Obviously, his leash is shorter than he thinks.

Unfortunately, Dean was right the first time. The war is no more winnable than was Vietnam. This DLC-inspired rubbish about a "better strategy," every bit as poisonous as Bush's line, will only prolong the suffering and delay the inevitable withdrawal.

Spare us the GOP-lite strategery, doc. Get the party behind withdrawal--or don't expect votes from the antiwar movement.