Price assails Bush administration policies in Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://newsobserver.com/news/story/2717577p-9155335c.html

CHAPEL HILL -- U.S. Rep. David Price told constituents Friday the same thing he told the House of Representatives in late July: The country is long overdue for course correction in Iraq.
The Chapel Hill Democrat attacked the Bush administration's handling of the war during a speech to about 100 people at Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church.

"The Bush administration's Iraq policy has been plagued by too many misjudgments and mistakes," Price said, "and it would compound those mistakes to fail to learn from them now.

"We went to war with defective intelligence on the threat posed by Iraq, evidence selectively and sometimes misleadingly presented to Congress and the public. We went to war virtually unilaterally, with too few allies and unwanted disdain for the United Nations program of weapons inspection and destruction. We went to war with unrealistic expectations as to how our occupation would be received and with grossly deficient post-war planning."

Price said the United States has about 135,000 troops in Iraq, and the coalition continues to weaken, with countries pulling out because of public opposition to the war.

[slay]

1. I'm from NC

and Price is not a terrible guy. I'm not saying he would be my first choice - he's a bit too DLC-ish at times for my tastes. But this speech gives me hope that he will fall in line with more progressive Dems should the opportunity arise. Also, I'm not a big fan of using a church for political speeches but oh well. :shrug:

[xchrom]

2. very cool.

[pfitz59]

3. Repeating the lie: "Defective intelligence...."

The intelligence was not defective... the policy was! The DSM is clear, the BFEE "shaped intelligence to fit policy!" Price avoids the truth.....

[Voltaire99]

5. Exactly. This is more of the mush that Kerry spoke.

The war was, is and always will be morally and legally wrong. Iraq posed no threat to us, hadn't harmed us. Bush invaded with the help of most Democratic politicians, who trembled at the thought of dissenting.

Correcting that complicity and cowardice is long overdue. Good that Price is trying to help; too bad he isn't articulating meaningful criticism or calling for immediate withdrawal.

[Vox_Reason]

4. David Price is a great and honorable person.

My wife interned for David during his first tour in Washington, and I am happy to greet him at opening nights at Playmakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill.

Any representative would be envious of representative Price's accessibility to his constituents. He's smart as a whip, and he's a strong liberal voice that all North Carolinians can be proud of.

I'm going to call his office and thank him for his remarks yesterday and in July.