Harry Reid Declares Defeat

Democrat leadership in action:

The war in Iraq "is lost" and a US troop surge is failing to bring peace to the country, the leader of the Democratic majority in the US Congress, Harry Reid, said Thursday.

"I believe ... that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything, as is shown by the extreme violence in Iraq this week," Reid told journalists.

Reid said he had delivered the same message to US President George W. Bush on Wednesday, when the US president met with senior lawmakers to discuss how to end a standoff over an emergency war funding bill.

"I know I was the odd guy out at the White House, but I told him at least what he needed to hear ... I believe the war at this stage can only be won diplomatically, politically and economically."

Now wait a minute. If the "war is lost", how then can it be "won diplomatically, politically and economically"? If you lose, the war is over.

Harry Reid's a defeatist fool desperate for a sound byte that will make him appear relevant. He has, however, stepped in it big time and there will likely be blowback against him and his Dem counterparts. Americans don't like their leaders to champion defeat.

Harry's already trying to walk that statement back with a "revised" statement in a floor speech in the Senate, but it's too late for that. What's even more interesting is that Harry offers no suggestions for how to win, just how to run away.