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California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring Issues Statement On Harry Reid's Attack On Top Military Commanders

California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring issued this statement regarding the recent comments from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) on US military commanders:

"It is not known whether or not Harry Reid knows, or cares, how destructive his comments are to the troops on the ground and to our allies within Iraq.  Reid's proclaiming the war is lost in April, and more recently calling our military's commanders ‘incompetent' while interviewing with a group of liberal bloggers, undermines the morale of our troops while at the same time emboldening the enemy, signaling that what they're doing is working, and they should keep it up.

"As someone who's met with our troops and allies in Baghdad and as an American, these actions are deeply troubling.  In his quest to appease the radical left, Reid has put on his defeatist coat and turned his rhetoric towards our military commanders and our troops, a reprehensible and completely unacceptable action.

"On the road called Iraq, there are two gates ahead: one called Victory, and the other called Defeat. Rolling through the Defeat gate is easy -- we can do that any time. Victory is more challenging to achieve, but our future security -- and that of millions of people in the region -- demands we see this challenge through to Victory."

This Week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Called The New Iraq Strategy A Failure, Even Before It Has Been Fully Implemented:

In A Letter To President Bush, Reid Said:  "[T]he escalation has failed to produce the intended results." (Sen. Harry Reid And Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Letter To President George W. Bush, 6/13/07)

• Reid: "In light of the additional evidence since your veto that your plan is not working, it is clear that a course correction in Iraq is needed." (Sen. Harry Reid And Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Letter To President Bush, 6/13/07)

Gen. David Petraeus Said That The New Strategy Was Not Yet Fully Implemented And That Its Results Would Not Be Known Until September. CBS' Lara Logan: "Is there anything you see so far that would indicate you would recommend a withdrawal from Iraq?" Gen. Petraeus: "We haven't even started the surge, the full surge yet, so let me have a few months.  I'll answer that in September." (CBS' "Early Show," 6/5/07)

• NBC's Matt Lauer Highlights Democrats Wanting To Have It Both Ways. "[D]emocrats in Congress want to have it both ways.  They send a bill to the President ... in that bill it talks about these reports that will come in July and September waiting to hear if the surge is working from General Petraeus, and now they're saying we're going to tell you its not working before we ever see those reports." (NBC's "The Today Show," 6/14/07)

FLASHBACK: In April, Reid Said That The "War Is Lost."  Reid: "I believe ... that this war is lost..." (Peter Baker and Shailagh Murray, "Iraq Pullout Would Lead To Bloodbath, Bush Warns," The Washington Post, 4/20/07)

And In A Phone Call With Liberal Bloggers, Reid Called Military Leaders "Incompetent":

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Called Marine Gen. Peter Pace, The Outgoing Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff, 'Incompetent' During An Interview ... With A Group Of Liberal Bloggers..." (John Bresnahan, "Reid Labels Military Leader 'Incompetent'," The Politico, 6/14/07)

• "Reid Made Similar Disparaging Remarks About Army Gen. David Petraeus, The Top U.S. Commander In Iraq..." (John Bresnahan, "Reid Labels Military Leader 'Incompetent'," The Politico, 6/14/07)

Reid's Attack On Military Leaders And Their Strategy Comes After Pressure From Liberal Anti-War Groups:

NBC's Chip Reid Described Democrats' Plan As "An Effort By Democrats To Appease Anti-War Activists And Powerful Liberal Bloggers..." (NBC's "The Today Show," 6/14/07)

"This Is But The Latest Example Of How Reid, Under Pressure From Liberal Activists To Do More To Stop The War, Is Going On The Attack Against President Bush And His Military Leaders..." (John Bresnahan, "Reid Labels Military Leader 'Incompetent'," The Politico, 6/14/07)

"The Feminist Antiwar Group Code Pink Said Democratic Leaders Are Bowing To Intense Pressure From The Party's Antiwar Base." (S.A. Miller, "Democrats Load Up On Anti-War Bills," The Washington Times, 6/11/07)

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