"Mr. Speaker, over the last 2 days Republicans who support the President’s troop escalation plan have had two main message points. The first is that the resolution opposing the President’s plan is nonbinding and meaningless, and the second is that the resolution will be the ‘end of civilization,' to borrow a term from a columnist. They cannot have it both ways. What we are doing over these 3 days of debate is having a real discussion about changing the course of the war in Iraq. For those who support the Bush-Cheney escalation, this debate serves as a prime opportunity to explain why they think this escalation will work when four other surges have not worked.

"It is a shame that some have ignored the merits of the resolution and focused on political alculation. In fact, several Republicans sent out a letter saying this debate should not even be about the Iraq war today. If we let Democrats force us into a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, we lose. Far from it, Mr. Speaker. No one will lose by having a debate. In fact, our great democracy benefits and the American people win by knowing that we are charting a new direction."

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070217/NEWS/70217002