Posted on 08/22/2005 9:32:49 AM PDT by hildy123
A leading Republican senator and prospective presidential candidate said Sunday that the war in Iraq has destabilized the Middle East and is looking more like the Vietnam conflict from a generation ago.
Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, who received two Purple Hearts and other military honors for his service in Vietnam, reiterated his position that the United States needs to develop a strategy to leave Iraq.
Hagel scoffed at the idea that U.S. troops could be in Iraq four years from now at levels above 100,000, a contingency for which the Pentagon is preparing.
"We should start figuring out how we get out of there," Hagel said on "This Week" on ABC. "But with this understanding, we cannot leave a vacuum that further destabilizes the Middle East. I think our involvement there has destabilized the Middle East. And the longer we stay there, I think the further destabilization will occur."
(AP) In this photo released by NBC, Larry Diamond, author of the book "Squandered Victory: The American... Full Image
Hagel said "stay the course" is not a policy. "By any standard, when you analyze 2 1/2 years in Iraq ... we're not winning," he said.
President Bush was preparing for separate speeches this week to reaffirm his plan to help Iraq train its security forces while its leaders build a democratic government. In his weekly Saturday radio address, Bush said the fighting there protected Americans at home.
Polls show the public growing more skeptical about Bush's handling of the war.
In Iraq, officials continued to craft a new constitution in the face of a Monday night deadline for parliamentary approval. They missed the initial deadline last week.
Other Republican senators appearing on Sunday news shows advocated remaining in Iraq until the mission set by Bush is completed, but they also noted that the public is becoming more and more concerned and needs to be reassured.
(AP) In this image released by NBC, Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., is interviewed on NBC's "Meet the... Full Image
Sen. George Allen, R-Va., another possible candidate for president in 2008, disagreed that the U.S. is losing in Iraq. He said a constitution guaranteeing basic freedoms would provide a rallying point for Iraqis.
"I think this is a very crucial time for the future of Iraq," said Allen, also on ABC. "The terrorists don't have anything to win the hearts and minds of the people of Iraq. All they care to do is disrupt."
Hagel, who was among those who advocated sending two to three times as many troops to Iraq when the war began in March 2003, said a stronger military presence by the U.S. is not the solution today.
"We're past that stage now because now we are locked into a bogged-down problem not unsimilar, dissimilar to where we were in Vietnam," Hagel said. "The longer we stay, the more problems we're going to have."
Allen said that unlike the communist-guided North Vietnamese who fought the U.S., the insurgents in Iraq have no guiding political philosophy or organization. Still, Hagel argued, the similarities are growing.
(AP) In this photo released by ABC, Sen. George Allen, R-Va., interviewed on ABC's "This Week", in... Full Image
"What I think the White House does not yet understand - and some of my colleagues - the dam has broke on this policy," Hagel said. "The longer we stay there, the more similarities (to Vietnam) are going to come together."
The Army's top general, Gen. Peter Schoomaker, said Saturday in an interview with The Associated Press that the Army is planning for the possibility of keeping the current number of soldiers in Iraq - well over 100,000 - for four more years as part of preparations for a worst-case scenario.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said U.S. security is tied to success in Iraq, and he counseled people to be patient.
"The worst-case scenario is not staying four years. The worst-case scenario is leaving a dysfunctional, repressive government behind that becomes part of the problem in the war on terror and not the solution," Graham said on "Fox News Sunday.
Allen said the military would be strained at such levels in four years yet could handle that difficult assignment. Hagel described the Army contingency plan as "complete folly."
"I don't know where he's going to get these troops," Hagel said. "There won't be any National Guard left ... no Army Reserve left ... there is no way America is going to have 100,000 troops in Iraq, nor should it, in four years."
Hagel added: "It would bog us down, it would further destabilize the Middle East, it would give Iran more influence, it would hurt Israel, it would put our allies over there in Saudi Arabia and Jordan in a terrible position. It won't be four years. We need to be out."
Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said the U.S. is winning in Iraq but has "a way to go" before it meets its goals there. Meanwhile, more needs to be done to lay out the strategy, Lott said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
"I do think we, the president, all of us need to do a better job, do more," Lott said, by telling people "why we have made this commitment, what is being done now, what we do expect in the process and, yes, why it's going to take more time."
Can't we just shut this nut up
Hagel can **** my ****.
Anyone who has a chance to speak to Hagel, should
make a point of telling him to tuck his tie in his
shirt so that everyone gets the right impression of him.
Hey Hagel! Tuck your tie in your shirt!
>B-(
Hegel is out of his gord. He is no more chance of becoming president than I do. Peeople who get out on a limb like this usually find someone there with a saw. waiting to cut that limb off.
In some ways this war is just like Vietnam. The same kind of clueless scum who proudly carried the Viet Cong flags on our streets hoping for America's defeat are at it again. Once again America is being torn apart because of the very vocal aforementioned clueless scum, who once again want us to lose, not peace. Once again our treasonous news media is all for breaking the will of America to fight. Once again the enemies within crawl out from under their rocks. Yes, in some ways it looks a lot like Viet Nam.
At least during the Vietnam days, there was the threat of a draft to mobilize the cowards. What is the excuse of the "clueless scum" today?
What a nutjob. If it had been up to this loon, the U.S. would still be a British colony.
Why don't these folks like Hagel just flip parties? Nobody's holding you down and forcing you to back Republican policy Chuck. Go for it!
Get the hell out and stay out.
Chuck Hagel. Finally, a Republican Gene McCarthy.
IF the GOP had any REAL ballz, they would expel Hagel from the Party, tell him to go ahead and caucus with either the 'Rats or with that other 'Independent' (laugh-gag) Jumpin Jim Jeffords, and pour enough money into the next Nebraska Senate race to guarantee that the only nomination Hagel gets in 2008 is for "retired former Senator from Johnny Carson's Home State".
Hagel is a f--kin know-nothing. Between him and that other (up)Chuck [meaning Schumer of New York], new 50 yard dash records are being set every day for how quick those two can reach the cameras and microphones first, in order to inflict themselves as often as possible upon America.
Gawd, what a couple of egomaniacs.
This begs the question: how would this same "skeptical public" advise the president on handling the "war" other than cutting and running, which would render all sacrifices up to now to have been in vain? Criticizing the POTUS on handling of the war while suggesting no alternative but ignoble retreat makes such opinion unworthy of serious attention.
America might win. A defeat of our external enemies is also a defeat of our internal enemies, and their agenda.
Extremely on the mark. Good rule of thumb is do whatever displeases Michael Moore and his ilk because it's likely to accrue to the benefit of the USA.
Saying you support the war and then coming out against the military in order to prevent them from recruiting HS grads, is not supporting the war! Grow up!
Has anyone noticed that suddenly Hagel is a "leading" senator.
Hagel is now officially on my "No Presidential Primary Vote List" with McVain.
The enemy within. These rino's have no shame. Imagine someone in Washinton's time spouting off like that? He wouldve been "frog marched" behind the nearest barn. Get that guy out of office. Where do I send a check?
Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, who received two Purple Hearts and other military honors for his service in Vietnam
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