Ali
06-24-2005, 01:39 AM
Battle on the Hill is raised over Iraq
As lawmakers demand answers, Rumsfeld forced to defend himself as well as the war
By BENNETT ROTH
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/politics/3238990) Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - Expressing alarm that Iraq may be turning into a Vietnam-like morass, lawmakers from both parties grilled Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday about a strategy that even a top general conceded has not reduced insurgent attacks in recent months.
Verbal fireworks exploded during Rumsfeld's trip to Capitol Hill, as senators on the Armed Services Committee raised questions about an exit strategy, funding, Iraqi troop training, repeated call-ups of military reserves and flagging American support for the mission.
In one tense exchange, Sen. Edward Kennedy ticked off a list of what he said were "gross errors and mistakes" that Rumsfeld had made in Iraq, including exaggerating the success in training Iraqi forces.
"In baseball, it's three strikes, you're out. What is it for the secretary of defense?" Kennedy said as he queried Rumsfeld during a Senate Arms Services Committee hearing. "Isn't it time for you to resign?"
Rumsfeld responded: "Senator, I've offered my resignation to the president twice and ... he did not accept it. And that's his call."
The secretary took issue with Kennedy's claim that Iraq had become "a seemingly intractable quagmire." He said U.S. troops have been making progress in training and equipping Iraqi forces to eventually take over the protection of the country.
But neither Rumsfeld nor the military commanders who accompanied him would say how much longer they believed the troops would remain in Iraq.
Gen. John Abizaid, the top commander in the Persian Gulf, admitted the strength of the insurgency had not weakened since the Iraqi elections in January.
Abizaid was asked by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., whether his assessment contradicted Vice President Dick Cheney's recent remarks that the insurgency was in "its last throes."
"I don't know that I would make a remark about that other than to say there's a lot of work to do be done against the insurgency," Abizaid said. "I believe there are more foreign fighters coming into Iraq than there were six months ago."
"We see good progress," he said. "But we are realistic. And we know that great change is often accompanied with violence. We are not trying to paint a rosy picture."
'Challenges remain'
Rumsfeld's session with the Senate panel and later with the House Armed Services Committee came as Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari of Iraq arrived in Washington. Al-Jaafari, who met with Cheney and Stephen Hadley, President Bush's national security adviser, is expected to talk with Bush today.
Next Tuesday is the one-year anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq, and the White House hopes that a more pointed message from Bush about the need to support the emerging democracy will revive public support for the campaign.
Previewing a speech Bush is expected to deliver Tuesday, White House spokesman Scott McClellan tempered an optimistic assessment of Iraq's progress with warnings that "challenges remain."
The White House faces an uphill task in reversing public opinion and calming nervous lawmakers. A recent Gallup Poll found that nearly 60 percent of the public favors a partial or full withdrawal, and a New York Times/CBS Poll found that 51 percent said they believe the United States should have stayed out of Iraq.
Rumsfeld heard concerns from lawmakers who said they support the Iraqi mission but were facing increasing skepticism from their constituents.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said that "public support in my state is turning" and he was hearing comparisons to Vietnam.
"I'm here to tell you, sir, in the most patriotic state I can imagine, people are beginning to question," said Graham, who has supported the war. "And I don't think it's a blip on the radar screen."
Rumsfeld responded, "Well, that's the time that leadership has to stand up and tell the truth. And if you're facing a head wind, you got two choices, you can turn around and go downwind or you can stand there and go into the wind, and that's what needs to be done."
People 'need to know'
Some senators suggested that the Pentagon was not always leveling with the public. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., criticized the military officials for refusing to make public how many Iraqi units they believed were adequately trained.
"I think the American people need to know. They are the ones paying for this conflict," said McCain.
Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., chided Rumsfeld for not giving direct answers to members of Congress about issues such as war costs.
"The people out there want us to ask questions. So get off your high horse when you come up here," Byrd said.
Rumsfeld said he had given an honest estimate of the war's cost when he presented both the annual budget and supplemental budget requests.
The defense secretary had his defenders, including committee chairman Sen. John Warner, R-Va., who told Rumsfeld, "I have full confidence in your ability to lead the Department of Defense."
Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., blamed the media for painting an overly pessimistic picture.
But Levin said the United States must do more to pressure the Iraqis to form a government that includes representatives from various factions. He proposed that if the Iraqis do not abide by a deadline to approve a constitution by Aug. 15, with the possibility of a six-month extension, the United States should review its options, including the possibility of a troop withdrawal. Rumsfeld rejected any exit strategy with a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops.
"Timing in war is never predictable," he said. "Those who say we are losing this war are wrong. We are not."
:eek: Rumsfeld responded: "Senator, I've offered my resignation to the president twice and ... he did not accept it. :eek:
Something about rats and sinking ships...
As lawmakers demand answers, Rumsfeld forced to defend himself as well as the war
By BENNETT ROTH
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/politics/3238990) Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - Expressing alarm that Iraq may be turning into a Vietnam-like morass, lawmakers from both parties grilled Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday about a strategy that even a top general conceded has not reduced insurgent attacks in recent months.
Verbal fireworks exploded during Rumsfeld's trip to Capitol Hill, as senators on the Armed Services Committee raised questions about an exit strategy, funding, Iraqi troop training, repeated call-ups of military reserves and flagging American support for the mission.
In one tense exchange, Sen. Edward Kennedy ticked off a list of what he said were "gross errors and mistakes" that Rumsfeld had made in Iraq, including exaggerating the success in training Iraqi forces.
"In baseball, it's three strikes, you're out. What is it for the secretary of defense?" Kennedy said as he queried Rumsfeld during a Senate Arms Services Committee hearing. "Isn't it time for you to resign?"
Rumsfeld responded: "Senator, I've offered my resignation to the president twice and ... he did not accept it. And that's his call."
The secretary took issue with Kennedy's claim that Iraq had become "a seemingly intractable quagmire." He said U.S. troops have been making progress in training and equipping Iraqi forces to eventually take over the protection of the country.
But neither Rumsfeld nor the military commanders who accompanied him would say how much longer they believed the troops would remain in Iraq.
Gen. John Abizaid, the top commander in the Persian Gulf, admitted the strength of the insurgency had not weakened since the Iraqi elections in January.
Abizaid was asked by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., whether his assessment contradicted Vice President Dick Cheney's recent remarks that the insurgency was in "its last throes."
"I don't know that I would make a remark about that other than to say there's a lot of work to do be done against the insurgency," Abizaid said. "I believe there are more foreign fighters coming into Iraq than there were six months ago."
"We see good progress," he said. "But we are realistic. And we know that great change is often accompanied with violence. We are not trying to paint a rosy picture."
'Challenges remain'
Rumsfeld's session with the Senate panel and later with the House Armed Services Committee came as Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari of Iraq arrived in Washington. Al-Jaafari, who met with Cheney and Stephen Hadley, President Bush's national security adviser, is expected to talk with Bush today.
Next Tuesday is the one-year anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq, and the White House hopes that a more pointed message from Bush about the need to support the emerging democracy will revive public support for the campaign.
Previewing a speech Bush is expected to deliver Tuesday, White House spokesman Scott McClellan tempered an optimistic assessment of Iraq's progress with warnings that "challenges remain."
The White House faces an uphill task in reversing public opinion and calming nervous lawmakers. A recent Gallup Poll found that nearly 60 percent of the public favors a partial or full withdrawal, and a New York Times/CBS Poll found that 51 percent said they believe the United States should have stayed out of Iraq.
Rumsfeld heard concerns from lawmakers who said they support the Iraqi mission but were facing increasing skepticism from their constituents.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said that "public support in my state is turning" and he was hearing comparisons to Vietnam.
"I'm here to tell you, sir, in the most patriotic state I can imagine, people are beginning to question," said Graham, who has supported the war. "And I don't think it's a blip on the radar screen."
Rumsfeld responded, "Well, that's the time that leadership has to stand up and tell the truth. And if you're facing a head wind, you got two choices, you can turn around and go downwind or you can stand there and go into the wind, and that's what needs to be done."
People 'need to know'
Some senators suggested that the Pentagon was not always leveling with the public. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., criticized the military officials for refusing to make public how many Iraqi units they believed were adequately trained.
"I think the American people need to know. They are the ones paying for this conflict," said McCain.
Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., chided Rumsfeld for not giving direct answers to members of Congress about issues such as war costs.
"The people out there want us to ask questions. So get off your high horse when you come up here," Byrd said.
Rumsfeld said he had given an honest estimate of the war's cost when he presented both the annual budget and supplemental budget requests.
The defense secretary had his defenders, including committee chairman Sen. John Warner, R-Va., who told Rumsfeld, "I have full confidence in your ability to lead the Department of Defense."
Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., blamed the media for painting an overly pessimistic picture.
But Levin said the United States must do more to pressure the Iraqis to form a government that includes representatives from various factions. He proposed that if the Iraqis do not abide by a deadline to approve a constitution by Aug. 15, with the possibility of a six-month extension, the United States should review its options, including the possibility of a troop withdrawal. Rumsfeld rejected any exit strategy with a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops.
"Timing in war is never predictable," he said. "Those who say we are losing this war are wrong. We are not."
:eek: Rumsfeld responded: "Senator, I've offered my resignation to the president twice and ... he did not accept it. :eek:
Something about rats and sinking ships...