Whatever happened to the Democrats’ plea that we need to listen to the generals?
Senator Carl Levin, soon to be Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, proclaimed that the President must set a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq. His theory is that, by setting a timetable starting in the next 4-6 months, Iraq’s leaders will be forced to step up and take responsibility. Problem is, that assumes that Iraq is capable of stepping up in the next 4-6 months; if not (and it does seem unlikely) this will make the situation much worse. Then again, we need to keep the goal in mind, and it has nothing to do with winning.
What is fascinating about Levin’s statement, beyond his obvious lack of understanding of a complex situation, is that he shared this with General Abizaid at the outset of a hearing that presumably was intended to hear what the generals believe the best strategy is for Iraq before the general even had a chance to speak. In other words, a conclusion has already been reached, thanks for your time general (from AP).
Reflecting the division of opinion on how to proceed in Iraq, the next chairman of the committee said the administration must tell Iraq that U.S. troops will begin withdrawing in four to six months in order to force them to take responsibility for their own future.
“We cannot save the Iraqis from themselves. The only way for Iraqi leaders to squarely face that reality is for President Bush to tell them that the United States will begin a phased redeployment of our forces within four to six months,”
So, what does the general think about all this (from AP):
… setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq would impede commanders in managing U.S. and Iraqi forces.
Abizaid told the committee that he and other U.S. commanders need flexibility in managing U.S. forces and determining how and when to pass on responsibility to Iraqi forces.
Abizaid also said he believes U.S. troop levels, now at about 141,000, should stay steady but may have to rise temporarily to train and advise Iraqi military units. No reductions are advisable until the Iraqi security forces become more capable of dealing with the insurgency, securing Baghdad and dealing with the Shiite militia problem.
Clearly the General Abizaid believes the Democrat proposal (demand?) for withdrawal on a timetable would have disastrous consequences… perhaps they should listen to the generals.
You know what the scariest part of this is? Carl Levin, who will be Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, believes that this is an issue of Iraqi security and therefore should be handled by Iraqis. Problem is, this is an issue of United States security and he just doesn’t seem to understand that. Regardless of whether you believe Al Qaeda was in Iraq before the war or not, they are there now… and if we aren’t fighting them there, we sure as hell will be fighting them somewhere, maybe even in our own backyard.
And it’s not just Levin (from WAPO):
Reid said last night that President Bush still has not grasped the urgent need to change course in Iraq. Reid vowed to press quickly for phased troop withdrawals, a more international approach to Iraq’s problems and a rebuilding of the depleted U.S. military.
By withdrawal you mean… retreat, right? And these are… Iraq’s problems? And did I miss the part where we determined that our military is depleted? Is this one of those facts that start out as assertions and only become facts after the press repeats them a few times? And the plan to rebuild the depleted military is to… what? Have a draft perhaps? Charley Rangel, in line to be Chairman of the House Ways and Means committee, likes the idea.
More from Reid:
“My displeasure with the president, he doesn’t understand the urgency of this. It’s all victory for him, but I don’t know what that means anymore in Iraq. I do know what we are doing now doesn’t work.”
Yes, and it’s all defeat and retreat for you, that you do understand. So if you don’t know what WILL work and have no plan, then it’s clearly time to run away.
The consummate pessimist in a political world full of sunny optimism, Reid is fond of saying that he would rather expect the worst and accept the occasional pleasant surprise than forever live with disappointment.
Just what we need…
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