Call Reveals Dems' Deep Division Over Iraq

The transcripts of a conference call between key Democrats and anti-war activists reveal deep divisions within the Party over Iraq. Rabbi Michael Lerner of Tikkun Magazine, an anti-war activist, posted the transcripts of the conference call on the website of the Network of Spiritual Progressives, of which he is co-chair.

Each of the Democratic Presidential hopefuls insist they want our troops out of Iraq immediately. Yet each have played a careful game of semantics with issues such as when will the withdrawal of troops begin, how long will it take to get them out, and will the U.S. need to stay in the region indefinitely.

The result has been a hodge-podge of statements and innuendo without providing any substance to the highly emotionally tinged mantra of, 'We want our troops home now!'

Meanwhile, behind the scenes the anti-war stalwarts of the leftwing in the Democratic Party have expressed frustration with 'moderate Democrats' who seem to be holding up the process of an immediate troop withdrawal.

Anti-war activists outside the Party, such as Rabbi Lerner, are much more frustrated.

Hence, the transcripts of the conference call. Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-California, is quoted in the transcripts as expressing frustration that moderate Democrats across the country are holding back on Iraq because they are certain they will be voted out of office if they come across as 'supporting defeat.'

When one anti-war activist speaks about 'peeling back Republican support for the War,' Woolsey interjects that 'perhaps you should be going after Democrats.'

Woolsey also refers to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's rather low-keyed approach of late toward the War. Woolsey maintains that Pelosi is counting on the leftwing within the Party to push toward withdrawal.

Rabbi Lerner is not impressed, according to Politico's Mike Allen. In an interview with Allen, Lerner stated that the anti-war movement is not at all concerned with 'what may be in Nancy's heart' but whether or not she actively pursues a course of withdrawal of the troops.

Yet Rep. Jim Moran, D-Virginia, defended Pelosi in the conference call, stating that she simply does not have the votes for a complete, immediate pull-out from Iraq. Like Woolsey, Moran expresses frustration with the number of Democrats who are afraid of making waves on the War.

As for Rabbi Lerner, the fact that a Democratic-controlled Congress has not followed through on its promises to end the War is a sore spot among peace activists and anti-war demonstrators. Lerner stated that the present Congress should be labeled, 'Profiles in Cowardice.'

'There is a great sense of frustration with the Democrats in Congress,' said Lerner, 'a sense almost of betrayal.'

Perhaps the most important nugget of wisdom contained in the comments Lerner had to offer is in this statement, 'People in the U.S. are opposed to the war, but they feel that they need to have a picture of what the world will look like if the U.S. were to withdraw from the world by leaving Iraq.'

It would seem that this is precisely the heart of the matter. Nobody likes war. But sometimes circumstances necessitate it. And the key issue is, what would the world look like if the world's only remaining superpower simply withdraws from the world by leaving Iraq?

General David H. Petraeus will present his long-awaited report on the troop surge today. When Petraeus was first appointed by President Bush to take command of the surge, much fanfare ensued in Washington on both sides of the aisle. Even Democrats were saying they had full confidence in Petraeus and were willing to 'give him a chance.'

Now that the first phase of the surge is complete and Petraeus is set to give his assessment to Congress, the question is, what will the Democrats do?

It would seem they have worked themselves into a corner. If they oppose Petraeus, once again they will come off looking like nothing more than second-rate political opportunists, given their resounding support in the Spring. If they support him, they will play into the hands of anti-war activists such as Lerner, who is already referring to the Democratic leadership as a lost cause.

Thus, the War in Iraq will continue to produce deep divisions among the Democrats.