Posted by Duane Patterson

The senior Senator from Virginia held a press conference earlier today to talk about his recent 2 day trip to Iraq with fellow Armed Services Committee member, Carl Levin.  He made news by calling for a token withdrawal of troops by Christmas of this year, a stance that few observers of foreign policy have taken seriously.  What some people might generously call nuance in Senator Warner's position, others might call talking out of both sides of your mouth.

Whle saying he didn't support the Levin measure requiring a date certain withdrawal of U.S. forces, he also said, 

I think no clearer form of that than if the President were to announce on the 15th, that in consultation with our senior military commanders, he's decided to initiate the first step in a withdrawal of our forces. I say to the President respectfully, pick whatever number you wish. You do not want to lose the momentum, but certainly in the 160,000 plus, 5,000 could begin to redeploy and be home to their families and loved ones by no later than Christmas of this year.

Read more about Senator Warner's unfortunate comments today, and why he ought to be replaced in the Senate at Radioblogger.com.