Republican Congressman: Americans Are Too Impatient with Iraq War

It must be difficult to be a Republican politician nowadays. So its no surprise that Congressman Todd Tiahrt of Kansas gave some eye-opening responses on Cspan yesterday. When a caller asked him how long we would be in Iraq, Tiahrt said: We are still in South Korea and Japan. The problem with that answer is that we are not fighting a war in those countries.

He also blurted out some disconcerting facts:

1. The reason there is a "delay" in getting more Iraq troops and policeman to take on more responsibilities was they weren't being paid.
2. He also admitted that "it is a problem" with contractors over there. "They are not on schedule, said the Congressman." He was even more candid by admitting that some contracts involved fraud. Might that explain the delays?

A caller facetiously asked whether he found WMDs on his trip to Iraq. Tiahrt countered that the U.S. had found Serin Gas. He suggested to callers evidence of WMDs in Iraq will be made available online - eventually. If anyone finds a site that has that "evidence," please let me know. He hopes that by the end of the year Iraq forces will be strong enough so that "more" Americans can come home. Presumedly in time for Christmas.

One caller from West Virginia talked about how he heard the same rationale during the Vietnam War used in Iraq. He said that he was snookered again when he voted for Bush. Apparently the caller had supported Nixon. This caller was suggesting that the American people were being fooled into supporting the Iraq War just like we were during the Vietnam war. Tiahrts response: sorry your team lost in ongoing NCAA basketball tournament.

But that was not the most shocking and offensive comment made by the Congressman. He equated the publics criticism of the war, with a "culture that wants to have things happen quickly." He used the analogy of microwave ovens, instant coffee, and 30 second commercials. He admitted, "Its going to take a while." How long is that? Then Mr.Tiahrt made his most obnoxious comparison: "building a democracy took us 11 years." I don't think Americans will wait that long.