Nethercutt calls Iraq success

The Daily ^ | 10/14/03 | Dylan Lee Lehrke

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt, R-5th District, who recently returned from a tour of Iraq, delivered an optimistic account yesterday of reconstruction efforts in the country. Nethercutt and 16 other members of Congress went to Iraq in late September.

“I think we are making tremendous progress in [Iraq],” said Nethercutt. “The story of what we have done in the post-war period … has been remarkable. … The story is better than we might be led to believe in the news.”

Nethercutt portrayed an Iraqi population with optimism similar to his. Although helicopters have been in the skies above Iraq for months, Nethercutt pointed out that kids still wave wildly at each that flies past.

“The people, as I understand it, are very welcoming of this new regime that is there,” said Nethercutt.

Nethercutt is vice-chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Committee, which is considering President George W. Bush’s $87 billion aid package to Iraq. Making his view on the allocation evident, Nethercutt said if Iraq could reach its full potential the money would be well spent.

“I think this is a smart investment for our country to make,” said Nethercutt.

Nethercutt said multiple times that the question of how to deal with Iraq may be one of the most profound the United States will face in the near future.

“Politics aside, this is a big issue for our country,” said Nethercutt. “It isn’t a Republican or a Democratic solution that we should be searching for, but the right solution.”

Dan Senor, a top adviser to Iraq reconstruction leader Paul Bremer, who participated in the presentation via telephone, pointed to recent successes in the reconstruction: schools are open, hospitals are modernizing, energy production has exceeded pre-war levels and new currency is being issued Wednesday.

However, Nethercutt did point out that there is much left to be done.

“We need to establish basic living standards … so terrorism cannot capitalize on a sense of despair,” said Nethercutt.

Nethercutt also defended the reasons for and timing of the war. He pointed out that the inspectors have so far searched only 10 of 130 munitions sites and what they are looking for can be hidden in the space of a two-car garage.

“I have no doubt that [weapons of mass destruction] are there or have been there,” Nethercutt said. “Giving Saddam Hussein more time … was not the way to go.”

Nethercutt said Iraq might be used as a blueprint for use of the preemption doctrine espoused by the Bush administration. Since the United States cannot attack every undesirable regime, said Nethercutt, certain characteristics in Hussein’s regime could become a checklist about whether preemption was a viable option.

“I think things changed on Sept. 11 (2001),” said Nethercutt. “We can’t counterpunch anymore.”