If this has already been talked about around here lately I’ll go ahead and delete this diary. It probably was but I don’t remember this reported at all last October or since even here at Dkos; when radio talk show host Ed Shultz interviewed Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) on his show. If it hasn’t been talked about – it should have been – and the reality-based community needs to call both Reid and Pelosi out on it for what it is... A BOLD-FACED LIE.
On his syndicated radio show back on Friday October 26, 2007, Ed Shultz, took exception to the Senate’s so-called "standing rule" that it would take 60 votes to effectively end the occupation in Iraq (or even Afghanistan for that matter) with his special guest, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid. Although reluctant to concede the fact, Senator Reid admitted that for all intents and purposes, all it would take is a public announcement stating that the war-funding bills would not be coming to the floor for a vote. Madam Speaker could do the same thing on the floor of the House of Representatives.
A procedural agreement between the two would ensure the redeployment of all our troops.
So, why are we being lied to?
If this is true then it’s an abomination; an egregious breach of trust between a Democratically-led Congress and its constituents – all three-hundred-million of us.
Democrats.com has the transcript of Reid’s acknowledgment confession. The audio is here: (courtesy of TheBlueHighwayMan)
Here’s the relevant part of the interview:
Schultz: But Senator don't you have the power to say you're not going to get the money even without 60 votes?
Reid: Sure we have the power on anything to stop the money, that's what it's all about, that's why we have three separate branches of government. But the thing we have to do is make sure we do it the right way. It's not a question of all or nothing; it's a question of making sure we do the right thing. What Feingold and I have pushed and we're going to continue to do that... get all the troops to start redeploying immediately, get all the troops out of there by June except those needed for counterterrorism, protecting our assets we have there, and a limited force for training Iraqis. That's what Feingold and I believe should happen, we're going to continue to push that. The majority of the Democrats support it, but not all the Democrats.
Schultz: But you could say we're not bringing this to the floor, the funding's over, correct?
Reid [very slowly]: Yes, we could do that, yes.
Schultz: Why don't you do that, the American people want you to do that?
Reid: Ed, it's a situation where we have to do what is right... I say that Feingold and Reid are right. We say there should be immediate redeployment, set a deadline that everybody should be out except a limited number. That means they're gonna have to have some money... the troops there fighting counterterrorism, which we need, that is going to be some money, we have to do that.
Gotta give Shultz a lot of credit here for coaxing the confession out of Reid.
This is an OUTRAGE!! It’s time to call Reid and Pelosi and whoever else is responsible for the continuation of this grand farce perpetrated upon the American people. It’s time to hold them responsible for this massive and disastrous foreign policy blunder. I don’t know any other way to put this but, ostensibly, Reid and Pelosi (and other Democrats who are complicit) are in direct collusion with the Bush White House to continue the occupation of Iraq.
Activist David Swanson over @ AfterDowningStreet.org had this to say:
But if Reid truly believes in keeping some troops in Iraq for counter-terrorism, he is making a huge strategic mistake, one Bush would never do - he's negotiating with himself.
Reid could get the result he wants by using his power as Majority Leader to block all funding for Iraq. Then when Bush gets concerned, Reid can persuade Bush to agree to the compromise he describes above.
Of course Bush could refuse to compromise, in which case Bush would have to steal money from other accounts to keep the occupation going on his terms. And then Democrats would have one more reason to impeach him - and they would have the support of 73% of America.
At the very least, Senator Reid could use this power to force Bush to negotiate. But, he doesn’t. Instead, our elected majority leader would rather continue to perpetuate this monumental fiasco. It’s time to push hard on this. It’s time to bomb Harry Reid with phone calls, emails and handwritten letters telling him that THE. GIG. IS. UP.
Come straight with the American people Senator Reid. You too Madam Speaker.
Stop the funding.
Stop the killing.
Stop the occupation.
Peace