Almost at the same time the Republican Senators were defending this crazy proposal, Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki was busy firing the aide who had suggested it. Yet, here are several Republican Senators extolling the proposal yesterday on the floor of the US Senate (bolding added for emphasis):
+óGé¼+ôIf they bore arms against our people," said Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, "What's the difference between those people that bore arms against the Union in the War between the States? What+óGé¼Gäós the difference between the Germans and Japanese and all the people we+óGé¼Gäóve forgiven?+óGé¼-¥Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) likened the granting of amnesty to former insurgents to efforts that earned Nelson Mandela a Nobel prize. "Forgiveness," he said, "has been a major factor in what has been a political miracle in Africa."
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) argued that forgiveness had already been at work in Iraq, asking: +óGé¼+ôIs it not true today that we have Iraqis who are fighting the war against the insurgents, who at one time fought against American troops and other coalition troops as they were marching to Baghdad, who have now come over to our side and are doing one heck of a job of fighting along, side by side, with Americans and coalition forces, attacking and killing insurgents on a daily basis?"
Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and John Cornyn (R-TX) each took to the floor to argue that there should be no argument--that debate over whether or not to condemn the actions of the new government were merely distractions from real debate.
"+óGé¼-ªMight it not just be as useful an exercise to be trying to pass a resolution commending the Iraqi government for the position that they+óGé¼Gäóve taken today with regard to this discussion of Amnesty?" asked McConnell.
Incredible. Imagine if Ted Kennedy or Harry Reid had made statements like these? The corporate media and right-wing blogs would be going nuts, decrying them as traitors, etc. But when Republicans call for granting amnesty to insurgents (aka, "terrorists") who've killed American soldiers, what do we get from the right wingers? I'm holding my breath awaiting their deafening silence cries of outrage over this.