Magish
06-24-2005, 10:36 AM
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0506240141jun24,1,7229612.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
"Anyone who says we have lost the war or are losing the war is wrong," Rumsfeld said, adding that setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops "would throw a lifeline to terrorists who in recent months have suffered significant losses in casualties, been denied havens and suffered weakened popular support."
"Secretary Rumsfeld, you know we are in serious trouble in Iraq," Kennedy said. "And this war has been consistently and grossly mismanaged. And we are now in a seemingly intractable quagmire. Our troops are dying, and there really is no end in sight.
Even republicans are starting to doubt it!
[quote]The White House has launched an aggressive campaign to rebut assertions like those made recently by Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), who told U.S. News and World Report that "the reality is, we're losing in Iraq."
More exerpts:
en. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.): The public views this every day, Mr. Secretary, more and more like Vietnam. ...
In the last year, sir, the public support in my state has turned, and I worry about that, because that's the only way we'll ever leave before we should, is if the public loses faith in us.
Rumsfeld: I am absolutely convinced that we'll have the willpower and the staying power and the courage to do what's right there. The alternative is to turn that region back to darkness, to people who behead people. And that is not a happy prospect.
Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.): Gen. Abizaid, can you give us your assessment of the strength of the insurgency? Is it less strong, more strong, about the same strength as it was six months ago?
Gen. John Abizaid: In terms of comparison from six months ago, in terms of foreign fighters, I believe there are more foreign fighters coming into Iraq than there were six months ago.
In terms of the overall strength of the insurgency, I'd say it's about the same as it was.
Levin: So you wouldn't agree with the statement that it's in its last throes?
Abizaid: I don't know that I would make any comment about that other than to say there's a lot of work to be done against the insurgency.
Levin: Well, the vice president has said it's in its last throes, that's the statement the vice president--it doesn't sound to me from your testimony or any other testimony here this morning that it is in its last throes.
Abizaid: I'm sure you'll forgive me from criticizing the vice president.
Discuss.
"Anyone who says we have lost the war or are losing the war is wrong," Rumsfeld said, adding that setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops "would throw a lifeline to terrorists who in recent months have suffered significant losses in casualties, been denied havens and suffered weakened popular support."
"Secretary Rumsfeld, you know we are in serious trouble in Iraq," Kennedy said. "And this war has been consistently and grossly mismanaged. And we are now in a seemingly intractable quagmire. Our troops are dying, and there really is no end in sight.
Even republicans are starting to doubt it!
[quote]The White House has launched an aggressive campaign to rebut assertions like those made recently by Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), who told U.S. News and World Report that "the reality is, we're losing in Iraq."
More exerpts:
en. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.): The public views this every day, Mr. Secretary, more and more like Vietnam. ...
In the last year, sir, the public support in my state has turned, and I worry about that, because that's the only way we'll ever leave before we should, is if the public loses faith in us.
Rumsfeld: I am absolutely convinced that we'll have the willpower and the staying power and the courage to do what's right there. The alternative is to turn that region back to darkness, to people who behead people. And that is not a happy prospect.
Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.): Gen. Abizaid, can you give us your assessment of the strength of the insurgency? Is it less strong, more strong, about the same strength as it was six months ago?
Gen. John Abizaid: In terms of comparison from six months ago, in terms of foreign fighters, I believe there are more foreign fighters coming into Iraq than there were six months ago.
In terms of the overall strength of the insurgency, I'd say it's about the same as it was.
Levin: So you wouldn't agree with the statement that it's in its last throes?
Abizaid: I don't know that I would make any comment about that other than to say there's a lot of work to be done against the insurgency.
Levin: Well, the vice president has said it's in its last throes, that's the statement the vice president--it doesn't sound to me from your testimony or any other testimony here this morning that it is in its last throes.
Abizaid: I'm sure you'll forgive me from criticizing the vice president.
Discuss.