Republican Presidential Hopefuls Ignoring Realities in Iraq

President Bush and the Republican presidential hopefuls continue to ignore the facts on the ground in Iraq. Despite today’s Iraq report which made clear that the surge is not working, the Republican presidential candidates continue to blindly follow President Bush and his failed Iraq policy, ignoring the will of the American people, military experts and the Iraq Study Group.

LEADING GOP CANDIDATES STAND WITH BUSH’S FAILED PLAN ON IRAQ

Giuliani On Iraq: Stands With Bush Plan; Says Success “In The Hands Of Other People.” Giuliani omitted Iraq from his “12 Commitments” and said “Iraq may get better, Iraq may get worse, we maybe successful in Iraq, we may not be. I don't know the answer to that. That’s in the hands of other people.” And Giuliani “warns even more starkly than Bush that withdrawing troops from Iraq could have disastrous consequences. [New York Times, 6/13/07; Boston Globe, 4/4/07]

McCain On Iraq: This Plan “Can Lead To Success.” “General Petraeus and his commanders believe that they have a strategy that can, over time, lead to success in Iraq. General Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will come to Washington in September to report on the status of their efforts, and those of the Iraqis. They ask just two things of us: the time necessary to see whether their efforts can succeed, and the political courage to support them in their work. I believe that we must give them both.” [McCain Senate Floor Statement, 7/10/2007]

Romney on Iraq: “I Support the President…and I Think He’s on the Right Course.” Despite its unpopularity with voters, Mitt Romney affirmed his support for President Bush’s troop surge, saying there was a “reasonable probability” of success. “At this stage, I support the president,” he said. “He's the commander-in-chief, and I think he's on the right course.” [Miami Herald, 2/18/07]

Thompson On Iraq: “I Would Do…What The President Is Doing.” Asked in March 2007, Fred Thompson said “I would do essentially what the president's doing.” [Fox News Sunday, 3/11/07]