Russ Feingold Studies History
By streiff Posted in Democrats — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Russ Feingold (D-Defeat) yesterday:
“Now, for those who won’t believe that [cutting off funding] has ever been done or that it can't -- or they'd say – it can't be done, let me cite an example from not that long ago. On October 1993, Congress enacted an amendment sponsored by the senior senator from West Virginia cutting off funding – cutting of funding – for military operations in Somalia effective March 31, 1994.”
03/15/07, Congressional Record
BIN LADEN: “We believe that the defeat of America is possible, with the help of God, and is even easier for us, God permitting, than the defeat of the Soviet Union was before.”
Q: “How can you explain that?”
BIN LADEN: We experienced the Americans through our brothers who went into combat against them in Somalia, for example. We found they had no power worthy of mention. There was a huge aura over America -- the United States -- that terrified people even before they entered combat. Our brothers who were here in Afghanistan tested them, and together with some of the mujahedeen in Somalia, God granted them victory. America exited dragging its tails in failure, defeat, and ruin, caring for nothing. America left faster than anyone expected. It forgot all that tremendous media fanfare about the new world order, that it is the master of that order, and that it does whatever it wants. It forgot all of these propositions, gathered up its army, and withdrew in defeat, thanks be to God.”
He studies history in advancement of his own position - which is to cut off funding for the mission in Iraq. He sees in the Somalia resolution of 1993 a precedent for what he wants to do.
Unfortunately, the fact that he continues to advocate such a position clearly shows that he does not study history. If he did, he would know what the enemy took as the lesson from that misguided 1993 resolution and would not be seeking to impose upon us a mistake of greater magnitude.
For those who say that this is not the war on terrorism, that we are being diverted from al-Qaeda by being in Iraq, look at that statement, and the other statements of known members and leaders of al-Qaeda. They clearly see Iraq as part of their larger struggle with the U.S. and the West. They seek to engage in Iraq and "win" by driving us out and imposing religious rule on the Iraqis. The definition and scope of this war is not for the Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and the peacenik Left to decide alone. Equally as important is the definition and scope of the conflict as seen by the enemy. We must defeat them in their own terms even if we do not agree with those terms. They see Iraq as part of the battle, and so, whether we see it that way or not, we must defeat them there.