Bush battered but unbowed

The White House theme song last week might well have been Anne Murray’s ‘Sure Could Use a Little Good News Today.’?? Unfortunately, good news for President Bush seems hard to find.

Already facing fierce Democratic opposition to his ‘surge’ strategy in Iraq, President Bush is now seeing more Republicans defecting, not in droves, but in dozens, from his war policies.

Opposition to the war in Iraq heightened Thursday with the release of the President’s long-awaited ‘interim report’ on 18 benchmarks designed to measure political and military success in Iraq.??It was, at best, a mixed review.?? Only 8 of the 18 benchmarks received a ‘satisfactory’ White House rating.?? Despite this dismal report, President Bush insisted progress was being made in Iraq and vowed he wouldn’t be rushed by Congress into an early withdrawal before his surge strategy is given a fair chance to work.

Within hours of the interim report reaching Capitol Hill, the House reacted by passing legislation requiring U.S. combat forces to begin withdrawing from Iraq within 120 days.??It was mostly a party-line vote, with only four Republican defections.

The Senate has yet to vote on the troop withdrawal timetable.??So far, it seems unlikely the Senate will follow the House’s action.??

Still, President Bush has to be concerned about the rising ranks of Republican senators who are challenging him on the war. What began as a trickle could turn into a torrent, as restive Republicans weigh the risks of remaining loyal to President Bush, when the tide of public and congressional opinion is turning against him. ‘?

Militarily, it makes perfect sense to give General Petraeus a chance to fully implement the surge strategy.??Military strategy and tactics have their own internal logic.?? Theoretically, top commanders are given their strategic missions, from the president, through the chain of command.??Mission accomplishment requires resources, human and material.??Ultimately, though, military success depends on congressional and public support.

Ironically, General Petraeus received two enthusiastic endorsements from the Senate just months ago.??Both his promotion to four-star general and his appointment to his current top command post in Iraq required and received Senate approval.??To abandon him, and our troops, in mid-mission, would, in my view, be a profile, not in courage, but in cowardice, by the Senate.

However, the internal logic of military strategy and tactics is not immune to external political pressures.??The first priority of most incumbent politicians, Democrat and Republican alike, is getting re-elected.?? Thirty-three of our 100 Senators are up for re-election next year.?? This includes 22 Republicans and 11 Democrats.??Count on both parties to target each other for maximum advantage on the issue of the war in Iraq to increase their respective numbers in the Senate.

Meanwhile, all 435 House members are up for re-election in 2008.??They will be even more eager to distance themselves from the White House on the war in Iraq.

So, although the White House ‘sure could use a little good news’ these days, it seems unlikely to get much anytime soon.

Thomas B. Vaughn is an instructor at Motlow College and co-host of the radio show ‘Viewpoints,’ which airs on WCPI 91.3FM.