Emboldened Democrats to Urge Iraq Exit (Levin says within 4 to 6 months)

BREITBART ^

[sonsofliberty2000]

The Bush administration must tell Iraq that U.S. troops will begin withdrawing in four to six months, the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Wednesday, as Congress began re- examining U.S. policy in the wake of last week's Democratic election victory.

"We cannot save the Iraqis from themselves. The only way for Iraqi leaders to squarely face that reality is for President Bush to tell them that the United States will begin a phased redeployment of our forces within four to six months," Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said at the outset of a hearing featuring the top U.S. commander in the Middle East.

[SE Mom]

Listening to Abizaid testify now in DC before the Senate- he is FIRM and begging them NOT to cut and run- says the consequences are unimaginable...

[VRWCmember]

My dental floss is more dependable that these damn Democrats.

I don't know what you mean. The democrats are very dependable. I could have told you last Wednesday morning that within one week you would see the emerging democrat "leadership" begin calling for an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. You can always depend on democrats to propose the worst possible foreign policies.

[SE Mom]

Are you listening to Abizaid in front of the Senate?

He's kicking their cut and run butts...

[randita]

This has to be a first - Carl Levin at odds with the NY Times.

[Blue Turtle]

um..Bush doesn't have to do a damn thing they tell him.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

And if - IF - they that elected were right then we shouldn't wait to cut and run. Four more months of American deaths for which the demos might be responsible is too much. Get out now! IF the demos were right.

[Marine_Uncle]

It would not be a surprise that he and others are just privy to info from the DOD that already has been put in place. After all the time schedules where for US troop downsizing in late 2006 through 2007, based on ground conditions, for going on two years.
To many articles where produced to this effect, to indicate anything is in any way new on this issue.
The game plan all along (post Bremmer) was to scratch build a new Iraqi military and police force. And as things on the ground improved, both in their effectiveness to take out various resistance forces in Iraq (I won't supply a long list, all should be totally onboard at this late date), as well as their HQ/supply depots to supply their forces independently, we would start to downsize.
We get little info of lately as to how close their divisional HQ/supply is progressing. For all we know things may be proceeding very well over all.
It is one thing to belly ache about not enough Iraqi armor being available just to mention one issue, and what is planned to be in place in the next six months. We don't get solid stats on where they actually are.
Only the mostly negative dribbles and modified news reports that may differ significantly from the reality as to how well they are preparing to take over.
Surely however. They will continue to need our air support for some time to come, unless the whole country where suddenly to be void of al Qaeda, radical Sunni and Shia groups, militias (organized on a high level based on major party lists affiliates, Saddamist, Persian infiltrators, etc.).
Note we have not seen any articles showing how their new airforce is being built up. Nor do we get articles giving us a glint in now their division/regimental/battallion level supply and HD are coming along.
I sense a lot more has been put in place then meets the casual observer.

[HitmanLV]

How many successful dem candidates that you know of ran on an unapologetic pro war on terrorism posture. Lieberman is one, but he didn't run as a dem. Can you name a dozen?

Whether we like it or not, the election did amount to a vote of no-confidence in Dubya and his 'stay the course' sound bite. It was close in many races, but it was still 'no confidence.'

The biggest problem was that Dubya really failed to drive the narrative on the war, and seemed disinterested in it. As a result, he lost people's faith. That's a very difficult thing to win back.

I think pulling out of Iraq prematurely would be a disaster, but I also think people knew what they were doing when they voted. For better (unlikely) or worse (more likely), the voters should be honored, even when they tell our side to screw off.

[auto power]

I meant the democrats are pulling for the worst possible situation instead of a clean, clear vision of what needs to be done both in the U.S. and Iraq....

[Halls]

Who died and made the dems President?

[YellowRoseofTx]

How Do You Ask a Man to Be the Last Man to Die in Iraq?

A phased pull out only means that fewer of our troops there makes them easier targets. There is safety in numbers. If we are going to pull out before stability there, we need a mass pull out. This phased pull out scares me more than anything, for our troops

[Bahbah]

Are you listening to Abizaid in front of the Senate?

Yes, I am listening, and I am getting the sense that the military is not going to allow this disaster of withdrawal to occur.

[SE Mom]

Not sure what you mean...General Abizaid was reading the riot act to the cut n run gang in the Senate- I don't think the president is going to ignore his top general in the region..

[SE Mom]

GRINS and nods in agreement. GO, General Abizaid, GOOOOO!!!

[EQAndyBuzz]

Here's an idea.

LET'S VOTE ON IT.... AGAIN!

Let's see how many of those cut and runners vote for us to leave.

[mystery-ak]

I don't think the president is going to ignore his top general in the region..



I hope so...I wish Bush would say something re this...

[EQAndyBuzz]

Levin is up for reelection in 08 isn't he? He is from Michiganstan?

Sort of makes your Muslim constituents more important then the country eh Carl?

[SE Mom]

Oh geeeeeesh...here goes Lindsay-gagmewithaspoon-Graham..

Abizaid is really giving these idiots a lesson.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

What's so magical about 4 to 6 months Senator? Why not start now? I think we should have a sense of the Senate vote as soon as the oaths are finished.

[Spiff]

Why not!? They control the MSM and if we pull out of Iraq the ensuing bloodbath and further emboldening of the jihadists worldwide won't make the evening newscast for months. The average U.S. citizen will remain blissfully ignorant, once again, until the next attack. And then? Well, then we do what the Democrats have wanted to do all along. Appeasement.

How long until a U.S. Government sanctioned caliphate is formed in the Western hemisphere? Bets?