Dick Lugar goes public

We may have an opportunity to test Mr. Horowitz's theory (see below) sooner than expected--sooner than I expected, anyhow. Richard Lugar has come out of the closet on the subject of the president's "surge" strategy. Lugar is not just another Republican; he was formerly chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, hence the president's most important point man in the Congress up to last January. He says his doubts won't affect his vote, but as a practical matter he has given cover to those Republican Senators up for reelection next year to want to tack to the left on Iraq.

The Republican whip will have a sore arm over the next couple of months, as the Democrats introduce their promised series of anti-war resolutions.