COLEMAN FLIP-FLOPS ON OPPOSITION TO TROOP SURGE

01/19/2007

ST. PAUL (1/19/06) – Just eight days after getting national headlines for his supposed opposition to President Bush’s decision to escalate the war in Iraq, Sen. Norm Coleman backed off his initial statement, the AP reported yesterday. Bush proposed sending five new brigades to Baghdad and an additional 4,000 troops to Anbar province. Anbar province represents nearly one-third of Iraq’s land mass.

On Jan. 10, Coleman stood on the floor of the U.S. Senate and loudly voiced his opposition to Bush’s war escalation. He said an escalation would “create more targets.” Local and national news outlets across the country reported Coleman’s position as opposing the president’s plan. Coleman basked in the spotlight as one of the first Republicans to oppose the escalation.

But yesterday, just eight days later, the AP quoted Coleman’s spokesman saying the senator is “open to” escalating the war by sending more American troops to Anbar province.

“This latest oscillation is quintessential Norm Coleman,” Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez said. “He has been on both sides of just about every issue during his political career. This time it took him only eight days to shift his beliefs.

“Minnesotans deserve to know if our senior senator supports escalating the war in Iraq. On an issue this important he simply can’t have it both ways. It comes down to trust – and Norm Coleman’s true colors are shining brightly.”