Reyes Does 180 in Order to Oppose President

Shades of John Kerry's Flipper impression. New House Intelligence Committe chairman Silvestre Reyes was for the troop surge before he was against it.

From the Washington Times:

...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 last week, virtually matching Mr. Reyes' recommendation and argument word-for-word -- albeit the president proposed only 21,500 troops.

Wouldn't you know, hours after Mr. Bush announced his proposal, Mr. Reyes told the El Paso Times that such a troop buildup was unthinkable.

"We don't have the capability to escalate even to this minimum level," he said.

Reyes, who thought that al Qaeda was a Shia, rather than Sunni group, and who apparently thinks that Hezbollah is a Mexican boy band, is a curious choice to head any House committee.