MedicCook
11-15-2006, 04:54 PM
Top general says Iraq status quo needs to change
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2006/POLITICS/11/15/senate.abizaid/story.abizaid.talk.cnn.jpg
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Under sharp questioning from senators, the top U.S. general in Iraq said Wednesday the status quo in the war there is not acceptable.
Gen. John Abizaid's comments came in response to persistent questioning from Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, about whether more U.S. troops are needed in Iraq.
When Abizaid, the head of U.S. Central Command, insisted that American and Iraqi troop strength is adequate for the mission, McCain responded, "I'm of course disappointed that basically you're advocating the status quo here today, which I think the American people in the last election said ... is not an acceptable position for the American people."
"Well, Senator, I agree with you, the status quo is not acceptable, and I don't believe what I'm saying here today is the status quo," Abizaid replied in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"We must significantly increase our ability to help the Iraqi army by putting more American troops with Iraqi units in military transition teams." (Watch Abizaid discuss troop levels in Iraq -- 1:43)
Pressed further, he acknowledged that the U.S. military could send 20,000 more troops to help stabilize Baghdad, but added that he is not prepared to recommend such a commitment to the region.
That move would achieve only "a temporary effect," he said. "The ability to sustain that commitment is simply not something that we have right now, with the size of the Army and the Marine Corps."
Abizaid said that if U.S. troop levels were raised to put more troops into the Iraqi security forces, it would be temporary.
"We do need more troops, and the more troops we need are Iraqis," he said.
Abizaid said he was encouraged by what he saw when he visited the region recently. "I remain optimistic that we can stabilize Iraq," he said.
"While sectarian violence remains high and worrisome, it's certainly not as bad as the situation appeared back in August," he said. "I wouldn't say that we have turned the corner in this regard, but it's not nearly as bad as it was back in August, and I was encouraged by that."
"When I come to Washington, I feel despair. When I'm in Iraq with my commanders, when I talk to our soldiers, when I talk to the Iraqi leadership, they are not despairing," Abizaid said. "They believe that they can move the country toward stability with our help. And I believe that."
Abizaid also responded to tough questions from McCain and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, about the situation in Anbar province, considered one of the most dangerous parts of Iraq and an area where al Qaeda in Iraq is active.
"Al-Anbar province is not under control," he told McCain in response to a question.
"Al-Anbar province is critical, but more critical than al-Anbar province is Baghdad. Baghdad's the main military effort," Abizaid told Nelson. "That's where our military resources will go."
"There will be some hard things on the horizon," Abizaid told the senators. "We'll have to do something in al-Anbar province. We'll have to commit forces to deal with the Mehdi army. Each of those things will be battles in and of themselves that we can win if we set the right political and military conditions. And I sincerely believe we can do that."
Abizaid's appearance before the Senate panel was the first congressional appearance by a commander since the midterm elections and the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. (Watch why Abizaid was walking into a political hornet's nest -- 1:54)
As Abizaid appeared before the committee, the news from Iraq was not encouraging.
Confusion surrounded the fate of dozens of Iraqis kidnapped from a research institute on Tuesday, and a car bomb killed 12 people and wounded 33 in Baghdad. (Full story)
Earlier this week, Abizaid met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad and told him the Iraqi government must quickly take more responsibility for security.
Dialogue with Iran possible
Ambassador David Satterfield, a U.S. State Department official, told the Senate committee Wednesday that the U.S. is "prepared, in principle for a direct dialogue with Iran," but the timing "is one we still have under review."
Regarding Syria, he was less optimistic about such discussions.
Syria "cast its lot" during the Lebanon war "with Hezbollah and forces of violence and extremism," he said. "When that changes, we will, of course, respond."
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/15/senate.abizaid/index.html
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2006/POLITICS/11/15/senate.abizaid/story.abizaid.talk.cnn.jpg
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Under sharp questioning from senators, the top U.S. general in Iraq said Wednesday the status quo in the war there is not acceptable.
Gen. John Abizaid's comments came in response to persistent questioning from Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, about whether more U.S. troops are needed in Iraq.
When Abizaid, the head of U.S. Central Command, insisted that American and Iraqi troop strength is adequate for the mission, McCain responded, "I'm of course disappointed that basically you're advocating the status quo here today, which I think the American people in the last election said ... is not an acceptable position for the American people."
"Well, Senator, I agree with you, the status quo is not acceptable, and I don't believe what I'm saying here today is the status quo," Abizaid replied in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"We must significantly increase our ability to help the Iraqi army by putting more American troops with Iraqi units in military transition teams." (Watch Abizaid discuss troop levels in Iraq -- 1:43)
Pressed further, he acknowledged that the U.S. military could send 20,000 more troops to help stabilize Baghdad, but added that he is not prepared to recommend such a commitment to the region.
That move would achieve only "a temporary effect," he said. "The ability to sustain that commitment is simply not something that we have right now, with the size of the Army and the Marine Corps."
Abizaid said that if U.S. troop levels were raised to put more troops into the Iraqi security forces, it would be temporary.
"We do need more troops, and the more troops we need are Iraqis," he said.
Abizaid said he was encouraged by what he saw when he visited the region recently. "I remain optimistic that we can stabilize Iraq," he said.
"While sectarian violence remains high and worrisome, it's certainly not as bad as the situation appeared back in August," he said. "I wouldn't say that we have turned the corner in this regard, but it's not nearly as bad as it was back in August, and I was encouraged by that."
"When I come to Washington, I feel despair. When I'm in Iraq with my commanders, when I talk to our soldiers, when I talk to the Iraqi leadership, they are not despairing," Abizaid said. "They believe that they can move the country toward stability with our help. And I believe that."
Abizaid also responded to tough questions from McCain and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, about the situation in Anbar province, considered one of the most dangerous parts of Iraq and an area where al Qaeda in Iraq is active.
"Al-Anbar province is not under control," he told McCain in response to a question.
"Al-Anbar province is critical, but more critical than al-Anbar province is Baghdad. Baghdad's the main military effort," Abizaid told Nelson. "That's where our military resources will go."
"There will be some hard things on the horizon," Abizaid told the senators. "We'll have to do something in al-Anbar province. We'll have to commit forces to deal with the Mehdi army. Each of those things will be battles in and of themselves that we can win if we set the right political and military conditions. And I sincerely believe we can do that."
Abizaid's appearance before the Senate panel was the first congressional appearance by a commander since the midterm elections and the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. (Watch why Abizaid was walking into a political hornet's nest -- 1:54)
As Abizaid appeared before the committee, the news from Iraq was not encouraging.
Confusion surrounded the fate of dozens of Iraqis kidnapped from a research institute on Tuesday, and a car bomb killed 12 people and wounded 33 in Baghdad. (Full story)
Earlier this week, Abizaid met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad and told him the Iraqi government must quickly take more responsibility for security.
Dialogue with Iran possible
Ambassador David Satterfield, a U.S. State Department official, told the Senate committee Wednesday that the U.S. is "prepared, in principle for a direct dialogue with Iran," but the timing "is one we still have under review."
Regarding Syria, he was less optimistic about such discussions.
Syria "cast its lot" during the Lebanon war "with Hezbollah and forces of violence and extremism," he said. "When that changes, we will, of course, respond."
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/15/senate.abizaid/index.html