.George Allen’s Flip-Flops On the Iraq War Make Us Less Safe
(Arlington, VA)—Senator George Allen routinely tells Virginians one reason they should vote for him is that they “know” him. And now Allen says he’s finally ready to run on his record and ideas.
Really?
Do Virginians know that flip-flopped his position on the strategy in Iraq because he didn’t like his poll numbers? And do Virginians know that this isn’t Allen’s first flip-flop when it comes to the war in Iraq?
Let’s tell them.
For three years George Allen criticized those who didn’t rubberstamp the Bush Administration policy, calling them “Monday morning quarterbacks.” Then, last week, twenty-something days out from the election, with poll after poll showing him in trouble, Senator Allen decided that “stay the course” was not winning him any votes and so he changed his position on Iraq. We’re still not sure what Allen’s new position is because he needs 2 or 3 months to think about it, but we can be sure Allen no longer wants to stay the course.
“When our public servants can’t stand up for their principles on how we pay for a war, how we conduct a war and how we win the war, then they no longer serve the public. This weakens our leadership and in the end, makes us less safe,” said Webb spokesperson Kristian Denny Todd.
“We need new leadership in the Senate—with the vision and the courage to be an independent and informed voice for the future of our country. We need to elect Jim Webb to the Senate because he will be that leader for Virginia,” said Denny Todd.
Senator Allen’s deficient record on Iraq includes flip-flops beyond the latest stunt on the overall strategy in Iraq. In addition, Allen flip-flopped on the progress of the Iraqi government, Iraq intelligence matters and Iraq reconstruction:
IRAQ STRATEGY: Allen “hailed the administration’s ‘steady strategic plan for success.’ He was certain victory was around the corner. During last month's ‘Meet the Press’ debate, Allen said, ‘Staying the course means we don't tuck tail and run, that we don't retreat, that we don't surrender.’ Now Allen would have voters believe that he thinks, as Virginia Senator John Warner does, that all options should be up for review. Political expediency or a turn of convictions? If Allen's flip-flopping -- as the Republican Party labeled it when Democrats finally recognized the reality of poorly planned war -- becomes any more acute in the next two weeks, he might just earn another administration label: defeatocrat.” [Roanoke Times, Editorial, 10/24/06]
IRAQI GOVERNMENT: Two weeks before election day, Allen flip-flopped on Iraq saying “Mistakes have been made and progress has been far too slow. We can't continue to keep doing the same things and expect different results.” When asked what “mistakes,” Allen said it took too long to hold elections, form a new government. “That's not how he called it during his first visit to Iraq in February 2005, to celebrate Iraqis’ ‘vote for freedom.’ Then Allen said, Iraqis had ‘taken a long stride’ in the direction of the ‘free and representative democracy’ that Americans wanted. Allen stayed on message during his second trip to Iraq this past June, telling the Richmond Times Dispatch: ‘I think it's on the right track.’” [Roanoke Times, Editorial, 10/24/06]
IRAQ INTELLIGENCE: Allen Said Nuclear Weapons Were A Main Reason To Invade Iraq, Then Said He Didn’t Place That Much Weight On The Nuclear Intelligence. Senator George Allen, in arguing for the war resolution on the Senate floor, raised the specter of Saddam Hussein armed with nuclear weapons. “If the current Iraqi regime possessed a nuclear weapon, it would drastically alter the balance of power in an already explosive region of the world,” Allen said then. “Such a capability could renew Saddam’s quest for regional dominance and leave many U.S. citizens, allies and interests in great peril.” But, months later, Allen said that he did not place as much confidence in the intelligence he had been given on Saddam’s nuclear weapons programs. “I always felt the chemical and biological was strong and credible evidence,” he said. “The nuclear part was not as clear and convincing to me.” [Newport Daily Press, 9/30/03]
IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION: Allen Flip-Flopped and Voted With Bush Against Loan Provisions to Rebuild Iraq After Loud Opposition. President Bush was completely opposed to rebuilding Iraq with loan money, grants or a combination of the two. Originally Allen opposed the President’s plan, saying that Iraq should receive a loan secured with its oil profits. “We have a big deficit in our country,” Allen said. “Why add to it when Iraq can pay it back? Iraq has the capabilities of being a prosperous country.” But Allen chose to be a rubberstamp and reversed his position “under pressure from Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.” “Asked if the pressure was intense, he said, ‘Very.’ But ultimately, he voted against the loan provision. ‘I gave the benefit of the doubt,’ said a weary Mr. Allen, ‘to the commander in chief.’” [New York Times, 10/18/03; Dolan’s Virginia Business Observer, 11/17/03; Richmond Times Dispatch, 10/25/03; Newport Daily Press, 10/19/03]
AC
Really?
Do Virginians know that flip-flopped his position on the strategy in Iraq because he didn’t like his poll numbers? And do Virginians know that this isn’t Allen’s first flip-flop when it comes to the war in Iraq?
Let’s tell them.
For three years George Allen criticized those who didn’t rubberstamp the Bush Administration policy, calling them “Monday morning quarterbacks.” Then, last week, twenty-something days out from the election, with poll after poll showing him in trouble, Senator Allen decided that “stay the course” was not winning him any votes and so he changed his position on Iraq. We’re still not sure what Allen’s new position is because he needs 2 or 3 months to think about it, but we can be sure Allen no longer wants to stay the course.
“When our public servants can’t stand up for their principles on how we pay for a war, how we conduct a war and how we win the war, then they no longer serve the public. This weakens our leadership and in the end, makes us less safe,” said Webb spokesperson Kristian Denny Todd.
“We need new leadership in the Senate—with the vision and the courage to be an independent and informed voice for the future of our country. We need to elect Jim Webb to the Senate because he will be that leader for Virginia,” said Denny Todd.
Senator Allen’s deficient record on Iraq includes flip-flops beyond the latest stunt on the overall strategy in Iraq. In addition, Allen flip-flopped on the progress of the Iraqi government, Iraq intelligence matters and Iraq reconstruction:
IRAQ STRATEGY: Allen “hailed the administration’s ‘steady strategic plan for success.’ He was certain victory was around the corner. During last month's ‘Meet the Press’ debate, Allen said, ‘Staying the course means we don't tuck tail and run, that we don't retreat, that we don't surrender.’ Now Allen would have voters believe that he thinks, as Virginia Senator John Warner does, that all options should be up for review. Political expediency or a turn of convictions? If Allen's flip-flopping -- as the Republican Party labeled it when Democrats finally recognized the reality of poorly planned war -- becomes any more acute in the next two weeks, he might just earn another administration label: defeatocrat.” [Roanoke Times, Editorial, 10/24/06]
IRAQI GOVERNMENT: Two weeks before election day, Allen flip-flopped on Iraq saying “Mistakes have been made and progress has been far too slow. We can't continue to keep doing the same things and expect different results.” When asked what “mistakes,” Allen said it took too long to hold elections, form a new government. “That's not how he called it during his first visit to Iraq in February 2005, to celebrate Iraqis’ ‘vote for freedom.’ Then Allen said, Iraqis had ‘taken a long stride’ in the direction of the ‘free and representative democracy’ that Americans wanted. Allen stayed on message during his second trip to Iraq this past June, telling the Richmond Times Dispatch: ‘I think it's on the right track.’” [Roanoke Times, Editorial, 10/24/06]
IRAQ INTELLIGENCE: Allen Said Nuclear Weapons Were A Main Reason To Invade Iraq, Then Said He Didn’t Place That Much Weight On The Nuclear Intelligence. Senator George Allen, in arguing for the war resolution on the Senate floor, raised the specter of Saddam Hussein armed with nuclear weapons. “If the current Iraqi regime possessed a nuclear weapon, it would drastically alter the balance of power in an already explosive region of the world,” Allen said then. “Such a capability could renew Saddam’s quest for regional dominance and leave many U.S. citizens, allies and interests in great peril.” But, months later, Allen said that he did not place as much confidence in the intelligence he had been given on Saddam’s nuclear weapons programs. “I always felt the chemical and biological was strong and credible evidence,” he said. “The nuclear part was not as clear and convincing to me.” [Newport Daily Press, 9/30/03]
IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION: Allen Flip-Flopped and Voted With Bush Against Loan Provisions to Rebuild Iraq After Loud Opposition. President Bush was completely opposed to rebuilding Iraq with loan money, grants or a combination of the two. Originally Allen opposed the President’s plan, saying that Iraq should receive a loan secured with its oil profits. “We have a big deficit in our country,” Allen said. “Why add to it when Iraq can pay it back? Iraq has the capabilities of being a prosperous country.” But Allen chose to be a rubberstamp and reversed his position “under pressure from Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.” “Asked if the pressure was intense, he said, ‘Very.’ But ultimately, he voted against the loan provision. ‘I gave the benefit of the doubt,’ said a weary Mr. Allen, ‘to the commander in chief.’” [New York Times, 10/18/03; Dolan’s Virginia Business Observer, 11/17/03; Richmond Times Dispatch, 10/25/03; Newport Daily Press, 10/19/03]
AC
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