On CNN Wednesday, House Minority Leader John Boehner told Wolf Blitzer that the loss of U.S. blood and treasure in Iraq is an “investment” and a “small price” to pay if it leads to destroying al Qaeda.
Leaving aside the fact that we’d be hearing howls from ideologues like Boehner right now if a Democrat had so casually dismissed the deaths of U.S. troops, the Minority Leader’s statement is all the more nauseating because it is underpinned by a lie: Al Qaeda in Iraq, a force of just a few hundred men, poses no threat to U.S. national security.
And even if we stay there until the last member of al Qaeda in Iraq is dead, it won’t affect the viability of the al Qaeda that attacked us on Sept. 11 at all.
Here’s the transcript of Boehner’s statement (emphasis added):
BLITZER: Mr. Leader, here’s the question. How much longer will U.S. taxpayers have to shell out $2 billion a week or $3 billion a week as some now are suggesting the cost is going to endure? The loss in blood, the Americans who are killed every month, how much longer do you think this commitment, this military commitment is going to require?
BOEHNER: I think General Petraeus outlined it pretty clearly. We’re making success. We need to firm up those successes. We need to continue our effort here because, Wolf, long term, the investment that we’re making today will be a small price if we’re able to stop al Qaeda here, if we’re able to stabilize the Middle East, it’s not only going to be a small price for the near future, but think about the future for our kids and their kids.
In his testimony this week, even the GOP’s sainted Gen. David Petreaus signaled that he does not believe that Bush’s war in Iraq is making America safer. If the man in charge of the can’t war can’t assure us that American security rests on the outcome of the war, how can the lives of American troops, the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis and the billions of dollars we’re spending be worth it?
And even if it were worth it, how can Boehner get away with saying the deaths of U.S. troops are an investment — and a small price at that?
GOP Leader Boehner: U.S. Troop Deaths in Iraq Are a ‘Small Price’ to Pay…
Video and Transcript: On CNN Wednesday, House Minority Leader John Boehner told Wolf Blitzer that the loss of U.S. blood and treasure in Iraq is an “investment” and a “small price” to pay if it leads to destroying al Qaeda. His statement not on…
Incredible to say the least. Evil, clueless pawn of the Merchants of Death. Whatever we have done in Iraq is not worth one American life or dollar. Saddam was a bad guy, but we put him in power and had him on a short leash as facts have proved. The lies led us there, the lies keep us there, the lies will continue as long as the masters tell the puppets what to say. Boehner’s statements should enrage any informed American who gives a darn. We could have stopped Al Quaeda long ago if that was what we focused on. There is not enough money in chasing a guerrilla around his mountain hideout. War is just plain hell on earth and this idiot is trying to justify the wishes of his masters.
Investments, it’s the only way Republicans can think of…even when it comes to our troops. They’re always spouting out that the war in Iraq is worth it…as if human lives are in money terms…
Oh well. At least he wasn’t all liquored up and sobbing this time.