Posted on 11/15/2006 12:25:06 PM PST by Lucky9teen
(2006-11-15) — Sen. Carl Levin, soon to be chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today said that reducing U.S. troop levels in Iraq is the best way to train Iraqi soldiers, since they’ll have to defend weakened U.S. garrisons from insurgents emboldened by the American retreat.
“Iraqi troops need to get more fighting experience,” said Sen. Levin at a hearing on Capitol Hill. “By having them guard U.S. bases as we redeploy our troops from the country, they’ll gain confidence and skill.”
The Michigan Democrat said an immediate phased withdrawal of U.S. troops would also bring more insurgents out of the shadows to strike departing U.S. convoys and helicopters.
“This will give the Iraqi army a chance to arrest the insurgents and bring them to justice,” he said. “That’s all good training. The Iraqis have got our back. They’ll stand up as we dwindle down.”
If he meant it, he would not be saying 6 months. 6 months may turn into 6 years.
I can see Levein really saying something like that. He'll probably read this and incorporate it into his next speech.
This is a defining moment for the Bush Presidency. If he cuts and runs from Iraq, or brings Iran in to help, he will go down in history as a worse president than Carter.
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