Democrat leader wanted escalation - until Bush proposed it

Newsweek magazine covered an interview with Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) last December.

At the time Reyes was the incoming House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman.

"In a surprise twist in the debate over Iraq," the story began, Mr. Reyes "said he wants to see an increase of 20,000 to 30,000 U.S. troops as part of a 'stepped up effort to dismantle the militias.' "

"We have to consider the need for additional troops to be in Iraq, to take out the militias and stabilize Iraq," the Texas Democrat said to the surprise of many, "I would say 20,000 to 30,000."

Then came President Bush's expected announcement, virtually matching Mr. Reyes' recommendation and argument word-for-word -- except the president proposed only 21,500 troops.

Then what happens? Just hours after the president announced his proposal, Mr. Reyes told the El Paso Times that such a troop buildup was unthinkable.

Reyes, not know for his intellect, is the man who was unable to tell Sunni from Shia, incorrectly maintained that al-Qaeda belonged to the second persuasion, and stumbled into paralyzed silence when asked the same question about the Shia group Hezbollah!

Link to the Reyes double-talk here. Link to the Reyes ineptness here.