Reid declares defeat in Iraq

Military expert and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, not to be out done by Pelosi's attempt to become the new Secretary of State, seems to have decided to become the new Secretary of Defense:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday the war in Iraq is "lost," triggering an angry backlash by Republicans, who said the top Democrat had turned his back on the troops. The bleak assessment - the most pointed yet from Reid - came as the House voted 215-199 to uphold legislation ordering troops out of Iraq next year.

Reid said he told President Bush on Wednesday he thought the war could not be won through military force, although he said the U.S. could still pursue political, economic and diplomatic means to bring peace to Iraq.

"I believe myself that the secretary of state, secretary of defense and - you have to make your own decisions as to what the president knows - (know) this war is lost and the surge is not accomplishing anything as indicated by the extreme violence in Iraq yesterday," said Reid, D-Nev.

Republicans pounced on the comment as evidence, they said, that Democrats do not support the troops.

He'll probably change his mind next month, he's been known to do that.

But of course he supports the troops. As Scott Ott notes:

Attempting to clarify yesterday’s statement that the war in Iraq is “lost“, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said today that he “supports the troops who lost the war.”

In an audiotape recorded from an undisclosed location and released through Al-Jazeera TV, Sen. Reid said, “The troops who lost the war should hold their heads high, because not everyone can be a winner, and they gave it a good try.”

[...]

On the tape, Sen. Reid also said, “It’s not the fault of our troops that they represent an evil regime, or that they wear the uniform of the nation viewed by many as ‘the Great Satan.’”

So, how do the troops view the "support" of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid? Michelle Malkin has been posting reactions of the Milbloggers and the military. Here's an example:

SEN Reid has been given bad information - break . . .

Need Retrans - break . . .

Any station that can retrans to Capitol Hill SITREP follows -

Combat Operations in Baghdad pushing Shia militia to ground - break . . .

All forces not yet in place - break . . .

Shaping operations moving ahead close to expected - break . . .

Al Anbar situation improving as well - break . . .

Sunni tribes working with CF and encouraging members to join IP and IA - break . . .

Local populace working more with CF and GOI forces against AIF and AQIZ - break . . .

ISF taking more active part in operations - break . . .

War is not lost and surge is pushing ahead as planned. Over.

Any station please make contact with higher and let them know we are managing the situation. Proceed with current plan.

Badger 6. Out.

Further "support" of the troops can be seen in the speed in which Congress plans to pass a spending bill: two months. Can't you just feel the love?