Hagel Schooled by His Democratic Brethren

Shame on the Democrats. Did none of them have the courtesy to tell Chuck Hagel that - hey - the so-called "surge" in Iraq really is producing results? Sure liberal blogs like this one love his antics, saying he "embarrassed" the minority leader with "cold, hard facts"... but maybe Brian Baird can give him the real "cold, hard facts":

"Last Friday, Baird told the Olympian, a newspaper in his district, that he now believes the United States should stay in the country as long as necessary to ensure stability.

"That followed comments by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.) suggesting that his trip to Iraq made him more flexible in his search for a bipartisan accord on the future U.S. role in the conflict. 'If anything, I'm more willing to work to find a way forward,' he told reporters late last month.

"Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-Fla.), who was with McNerney, told his local paper that the troop increase 'has really made a difference and really has gotten al-Qaeda on their heels.' ...

"'We are making real and tangible progress on the ground, for one,' Baird said, 'and if we withdraw, it could have a potentially catastrophic effect on the region.'"