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."
Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, who received two Purple Hearts and other military honors for his service in Vietnam
He's rigth, it is similar. The war is won, the country is approaching stability, and only the Democrats pushing to cut and run will ensure defeat. They know they are close, and they can taste it.
My Headline........
GOP Senator looking like defeatest liberal propagandist, betrays party and American soldiers.
Any senator, from either party, who criticizes the President is given the label.....LEADING senator.
The world will not be here in 3008. LOL...
..and *now*...tucks his tie in his blouse.
That's the spirit, have another shot of Jack ...
Hagel just committed political suicide with this. Hagel needs an ice pack to sit on after what Rush did to his sorry rear end.
Actually I would agree with him, only insofar as the media's attempt to thwart our goals is concerned. Ann Coulter was talking a couple of days ago about how we pulled out of Vietnam (in part) because the media ran a nonstop negative campaign that reported only the bad things. The same thing is happening now, but hopefully history will not repeat itself as far as the outcome is concerned.
The McCampaign school of MSM ButtKissing's only Graduate failed in 2000 if I remember correctly!~}
Hagel is ANOTHER reason the Republican party does not get any more of my money.
I do not feel it is dangerous or traitorous to let the rest of the world know we will not be in Iraq forever. It is something the Administration has stated openly. I disagree that we have to provide specifics to our adversaries to publically announce that time-table. For a civilian to complain about not being given the specific time-table of troop withdrawals is assanine.
" the dam has broke on this policy," Hagel said."
Hagel understands English about as well as he understands fighting war.
BTW- Hagel was for more troops to Iraq in July , before he was against more troops in August.
August 21 " This Week " with Stephy
" Hagel said more U.S. troops is not the solution. "
New York Times, July 3, 2005
" Questions for Chuck Hagel, Fighting Words " by Deborah Solomon.
"What do you suggest the President do ?"
" For starters, we don't have enough troops."
What a dumbass. The reason the public is growing more skeptical about the war, is because of idiots like him. Statements like his only encourage the enemy. He's a RINO, and needs to be booted from office.
B.S. There's no jungle there.
And, your point is.........??? Just because he got purple hearts and military honors he's infallable? I say, he must have had his brain injured....
I heard the tape from This is Weak. Did Hagel say
"Senator Kissenger"?
"(Our military......the world's HEROES!) "
HEROES can be politically/historically stupid......sheesh.
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