[CubaNews] Dodd: "Begin withdrawing, redeploying troops now"

[Walter Lippmann <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Begin withdrawing, redeploying troops now
By CHRISTOPHER DODD
SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER

December 24, 2006

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006612240313

The time has come for the United States to begin the process of
getting our troops out of Iraq.

In Baghdad last week, I joined in a conversation with a West Point
graduate who is serving in Iraq. He said, "Senator, it is nuts over
here. Soldiers are being asked to do work we're not trained to do.
I'm doing work that State Department people are far more prepared to
do in fostering democracy, but they're not allowed to come off the
bases because it's too dangerous here. It doesn't make any sense."

After spending six days in the Middle East last week - which included
visits with the top leaders in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and
Israel - it's hard not to come to the same conclusion: Our strategy
in Iraq makes no sense. It never really did. It is as bad in person
as it appears on television. There are literally dozens of sects,
militias, gangs, warlords, foreign terrorists and others killing one
another for dozens of reasons in Iraq today, and American troops are
caught in the crossfire.

Our brave men and women have done everything asked of them with 
great courage and honor, but searching for military solutions in Iraq today
is a fool's errand. True peace and security in Iraq will not come at
the end of an American gun. It will only happen to the degree that
Iraq's leaders are willing to take responsibility for governing their
own country and securing their own future. America's position should
be clear: Iraqis must show they want a country now, or American
troops should begin to withdraw.

The good news is that Iraq has leaders who can make a difference. 
The bad news is that the Iraqi government feels no sense of urgency. 
I met with the Iraqi president, prime minister and minister of defense
last week - my third such visit to Iraq - and once again, I didn't
hear Iraq's leaders speak of any timetable for when they will take
over. As long as America is there, they can defer responsibility.

The proposal being considered by the administration to add between
15,000 and 30,000 soldiers in a "surge" of American troops will do
nothing to address this issue. If anything, "surge" is a tactic in
search of a strategy. How does it lead to victory? It won't solve any
problems; it won't force the hands of Iraq's leaders; at best, it
will simply be one more reason for delay - a delay that will be paid
with American blood. That's a price our troops and our nation
shouldn't be asked to pay any longer.

Instead, the president should announce in January that we will begin
withdrawing and redeploying our troops - to the Syrian border, to
stop the flow of terrorists; to the north of Iraq, to better train
Iraqi security forces; to Qatar, to form a quick-strike force if
necessary to defend our vital interests; to Afghanistan, to resume
the hunt for Osama bin Laden; and for those who have already
over-extended their tour of duty by one or two years - home. If the
Iraqis don't demonstrate the political will to unite, we should begin
this process - in consultation with our military leadership - of
reducing troop levels within weeks, not months.

We should then undertake a new American policy of intense diplomatic
and political engagement with the entire Middle East.

The war in Iraq has lasted longer than our involvement in World War
II and left nearly 3,000 Americans dead. If continuing this sacrifice
held the promise of achieving American goals, I would support it. But
our presence there has become a barrier to our goals. American troops
have demonstrated the courage to fight. Now, Iraq's leaders must
summon the will to lead. It's the only solution that makes sense.

Sen. CHRISTOPHER J. DODD is a Democrat from Connecticut.


Sen. Dodd argues for Iraq withdrawal

By JOHN DUNBAR, Associated Press WriterSun Dec 24, 5:55 PM ET

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061224/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail&printer=1

Sen. Chris Dodd, a Democrat who is considering a run for the White
House, argued in a column in an Iowa newspaper Sunday for the
withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Iowa is home to the first contest for the Democratic nomination for
president.

In an op-ed in The Des Moines Register, the Connecticut lawmaker
wrote: "The time has come for the United States to begin the process
of getting our troops out of Iraq."

Dodd, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, argued in
the column that the U.S. strategy in Iraq "...makes no sense. It
never really did. It is as bad in person as it appears on
television."

Appearing on ABC's This Week on Sunday, Dodd said that he is "trying
to raise the necessary resources" for a possible run for the White
House and whether he will formally declare is "something I'll
evaluate over the next couple of weeks."

Dodd, who also visited Syria on his trip to the Middle East,
responded to remarks by White House Press Secretary Tony Snow that
trips by members of Congress to the country amount to a "PR victory"
for the leadership there.

The senator said in order to create stability in Iraq, "the job isn't
to go to garden spots" it is to go to "hot spots."

Dodd and Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., who also recently returned from
Iraq, and appeared with his Senate colleague on the news show,
illustrated the partisan split over what should be done in Iraq.

The Democrat argued for dialogue with nations like Syria which will
help lead to a political solution.

Graham argued that more troops are needed to stabilize Iraq and allow
for a political solution to become possible.

US Senator Dodd for Iraq Retreat

Washington, Dec 25 (Prensa Latina) Presidential hopeful Senator
Christopher Dodd urged the US Administration to withdraw from Iraq.

The Des Moines Register of Iowa says Dodd, a member of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, termed pointless the US strategy in Iraq
and called for an immediate retreat.

Although President George Bush tries to give the world an image of
invincibility last October near 80 soldiers killed in rebel ambushes
tell otherwise.

The figure rose total US fatalities to 3,000 and to 22,000 the
wounded in anti-insurgency operations since the invasion of Iraq
began March 2003.

Sen. Dodd also joins calls by the Bipartisan Study Group to withdraw
from Iraq and resume talks with Syria sand Iran to find political
solutions to the conflict.

Also, papers like the New York Times quote US high ranking officers
in favor of a temporary troop increase to achieve stability in Iraq.

In addition, the Novatris Harris Institute rate declining support for
President Bush at 25 percent and dropping, the lowest ever in US
military history.

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PL-11

"It's not the lack of dialogue that's the problem with Syria," Graham
said, "it's the actions of the Syrian government."





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