Congress Seeking Bush's Iraq Strategy Lawmakers Express Nation's Growing Unease

Washington Post ^ | September 3, 2003 | David S. Broder and Mike Allen

[huck von finn]

Returning members of Congress yesterday reported growing concern among their constituents about the turmoil and casualties in Iraq, signaling more pressure from Capitol Hill for President Bush to spell out his strategy for gaining control of the postwar situation.

Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.), chairman of the House International Relations Committee, reflecting a sense of anxiety heard by members of both parties, said he wants to "combat a sense of drift" about U.S. policy in Iraq and bring in more international assistance.

Most of the half-dozen senators interviewed yesterday said they sensed mounting unease over the series of bombings in Iraq and the continuing loss of American lives. But few reported any demands for an American pullback.

"Mainly, people want reassurance that the administration knows what it's doing," said Sen. Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah), "that things are going better than CNN would have us believe."

[huck von finn]

.

[CaptBlack]

The "sense of drift" is greatly abetted by the usual suspects in the Big Media. Witness the comment about things not being as bad as they appear on CNN.

[oceanview]

well perhaps Sen Bennett and other Rs should get onto CNN and the other network media outlets and blast them and their false, negative coverage of our efforts.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

If these limp-wristed, weak-kneed girly boys were members of Congress in 1941, we'd all be speaking German now!!

Iraq has become a magnet attracting terrorists from all over the region.

Bring them on and bunch them up 'cause we got the forces in place to clean house!

Last night I heard that a bunch of Taliban ran into a cave to hide from our onslaught.

Pack 'em in nice and tight so we can put a lid on 'em for good!!

[concerned about politics]

"Mainly, people want reassurance that the administration knows what it's doing," said Sen. Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah), "that things are going better than CNN would have us believe."

Everything about every issue is going better than CNN would have us believe. LOL.

I have a nephew in Iraq. He says just the opposite of CNN. Things are going very well as far as the Iraqi people are concerned, but there's terrorism from Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia dong all the damage.
The Iraqi people welcome us with open arms, but those other countries want Iraq for themselves. They want the U.S. to leave so they can claim it.

[goldstategop]

ROFL! Like CNN tells the truth about anything. The Chamas News Network.

[LS]

You are exactly right. The weakness of these people, who don't want to even spend a YEAR to stay and finish the job, is amazing and sickening.

[montag813]

Lawmakers Express Nation's Growing Unease

Huh? What "unease"? Last time I checked Bush was at 59%, with strong support for the Iraqi campaign, and 8-15 pt leads over any named Democrat opponent. Am I hallucinating?

[huck von finn]

No, but is probably more about maintaining that approval rating. Congress just wants reassurance in the form of some kind of plan, I think.

[huck von finn]

I don't think anybody in the article is in favor of pulling out.

[Unam Sanctam]

There is an exit strategy. It involves ongoing transfer of power to the Governing Council, the start of a constitutional process working toward a constitutional referendum and elections, and training of Iraqi security forces and police. We are moving forward on all fronts, but these things will take time. We just need to hang in there and be a little patient.

[TheDon]

The US media is not properly informing the US public on what is going on in Iraq. Is it purposeful distortion, or just laziness? You be the judge.

[grumple]

"Mainly, people want reassurance that the administration knows what it's doing," said Sen. Robert F. Bennett (R-Utah), "that things are going better than CNN would have us believe."

The man apparantly has no idea of how much he discredits his whole argument with this statement...

[LS]

Perhaps you are right, but need to add . . . "yet." The notion that we need the French or Cameroonians to deal with this is silly. The situation there is not substantially different than post-war Germany or post-war Japan.

[daviddennis]

The best quote from the article is at the end:

"I don't think we'll win the war running it by committee," he said. He said his younger brother, Matthew, an Army medic just back from Iraq, had told him, "The soldiers aren't panicking in Iraq, so why should you in Washington panic?"

Did you realize more people died in Iraq in accidents than under military fire?

D

[Rhetorical pi2]

Anybody have any suggestions on reading or sources of information on post war Japan and Germany, and the challenges of occupation forces?

Did they just roll over after the "cessation of combat"?

Were there casualties in the months and years following?

Anyone out there old enough to remember this personally?

[huck von finn]

Neither. The media's out to make money. They cover those things which they think will make the most money.

[huck von finn]

I'll let the military be the judge of that.

[caltrop]

I'm not old enough to remember it personally but the History Channel did a program on the Japanese Occupation and there were no casualties. That makes sense since the Emporer was left in place and told the population to cooperate with the occupation.

[Mo1]

"I don't think we'll win the war running it by committee," he said. He said his younger brother, Matthew, an Army medic just back from Iraq, had told him, "The soldiers aren't panicking in Iraq, so why should you in Washington panic?"

No we won't win the war if congress is incharge of it

And gee .. did they ever think that if between 1992 and 2000 those in charge didn't do such a bang up job ignoring Saddam and the terrorists .. we wouldn't be in a war now