Rep. Petri Joins Anti-American Dirty Hippies; Votes Against the Surge

After trying with all his might,  Representative Thomas Petri, a senior Republican from Fond du Lac, could not find the administration's pony that must be under all that Iraq occupation horseshit, if only we send  25,000 + N more troops. Voting with all those anti-American dirty hippies in the evil "Democrat" party, Petri has had it:

"I don't think it's fair to ask our sons and daughters to be policemen in a civil war," Petri said Thursday from the House floor, where he announced his decision.

Petri, one of a dwindling number of moderate Republicans, advocated a "new way forward (in Iraq) to replace the old way that isn't getting us anywhere."

..."Our enterprise in Iraq has been carried out with the best of intentions . . . but we have to accept reality," Petri said. "Let us set about the task of helping Iraq's three main groups to regroup and stabilize their own territories so that we can withdraw to our bases and ultimately get out altogether."

Petri, in an interview after his statement, said that though the resolution is symbolic, it marked a "serious decision" for him.

He said one influential factor was an Op-Ed piece Sunday in The Washington Post. "The Mission Can't be Accomplished," the headline read. It was written by William Odom, a retired lieutenant general and former member of the National Security Council under President Carter.

Constituents' voice also factored in, Petri said. "People are obviously very supportive of our troops and their mission, and many of them have been there (Iraq) several times," he said. "People at the same time are concerned that this has not been the cakewalk that they were led to believe, and they would like a pretty serious plan for this effort that bears some fruit."

Losing moderates like Petri, who has been in the House nearly 30 years, is a big deal for the Republicans.

- Barry Orton