Anti-War Democrat Changes Mind

I know one Democrat who can kiss his re-election chances goodbye:

U.S. Rep. Brian Baird said Thursday that his recent trip to Iraq convinced him the military needs more time in the region, and that a hasty pullout would cause chaos that helps Iran and harms U.S. security…

With Congress poised next month to look at U.S. progress in Iraq and a vote looming on U.S. funding for the war, Baird said he’s inclined to seek a continued U.S. presence in Iraq beyond what many impatient Americans want. He also expects Gen. David Petraeus, who oversees U.S. troops in Iraq, to seek a redeployment of forces. "People may be upset. I wish I didn’t have to say this," Baird said. He added that the United States needs to continue with its military troops surge "at least into early next year, then engage in a gradual redeployment. … I know it’s going to cost hundreds of American lives and hundreds of billions of dollars."

It was Baird’s fifth trip to the Middle East, and he conceded that what he has learned has put him again in an unpopular position with some voters. He no longer thinks partitioning Iraq into Sunni, Shiite and Kurd sections is possible, for instance; no one he spoke to in Israel, Jordan, Palestinian cities or Iraq liked the idea, he added.

Baird said he would not say this if he didn’t believe two things:

• "One, I think we’re making real progress."

• "Secondly, I think the consequences of pulling back precipitously would be potentially catastrophic for the Iraqi people themselves, to whom we have a tremendous responsibility … and in the long run chaotic for the region as a whole and for our own security."

The man went to the war zone, saw the progress being made, and came back home telling the truth.  Will wonders never cease? 

I give this guy credit, while I disagree vehemently with his take on going to war I will have to say this guy has some gonads to actually take on the ones who are bankrolling his party.  I respect that.

And the fact that he is a war critic who voted against the resolution in 2002 is a big deal.  The left dismissed Pollack and O’Hanlon because they once supported the war, then changed their minds, and then changed it back again.  Can’t say this about this guy.

But alas we all know how this is going to play out.  If Gen. Petreaus says the war is going well Reid and Pelosi will be all over him like a Democrat on a surrender bill.  They will say he is Bush’s mouthpiece (a narrative we are already seeing from our MSM) and will demand surrender in the face of victory.

And guess where the MSM is on this story?  Under their rock. 

So far, TOTAL silence on this story from the national media. A Google News search shows that it’s only been mentioned by Pacific Northwest outfits, where Baird is from.  Now imagine if a pro-war Republican had came back from Iraq with the opposite message, the MSM would be running it at the top of the hour for days.

Maybe they are just stuck in their "magical and sacred" kingdom.