I spent three hours watching hearings being held by the Senate Foreign Relations committee on CSPAN on Saturday. The topic of the hearings was the security situation in Iraq. The chairman of the committee is Joseph Biden, left, (D) from Delaware and the co-chairman is Dick Lugar, (R) from Indiana. They were taking testimony from four distinguished witnesses, General Barry McCaffrey (Ret), Lt. General William Odem (Ret), Major General Robert Scales (Ret), and Miss Michele Flournoy, president of the Center for a New American Security.
Senator Biden stated that the committee was interested in learning if the surge of combat troops in Iraq had met its stated goals, what was the military’s aim, can we win, and what will be the costs, both economically and militarily?
After opening statements from the four witnesses, a question and answer session was conducted by members of the committee. The members of the committee, including the chair and co-chair, included six democrats and five republicans.
The general consensus of the witnesses was now that we’re in this mess, how do we get out? All four witnesses felt that the U. S. military has to withdraw from Iraq because it can no longer sustain the current level of the military deployment. “The military is starting to unravel” stated General McCaffrey. The problems include multiple deployments of military personnel, the pressure on military families, poor recruitment, and shortages of arms and munitions. These concerns were not only for troops in Iraq, but all over the world.
The financial cost of the war was also discussed and since the costs of the war are not being paid but being added to the national debt, the costs were not only leading the U.S. into a recession but bankrupting future generations. Financial considerations also involved re-supplying and increasing the ranks of the military for the future.
So the question became, not if we should withdraw, but how, when, and what will be the outcome of our withdrawal. Again, all four witnesses agreed that the Iraqi government should be told that the U.S. was no longer writing a blank check for them and that they had to start making decisions for their future on their own. The next step was to start the actual gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. General Odem was of the opinion that the U.S. should withdraw immediately and that Iraq will fall into total chaos and civil war when we leave. General Scales had a more positive opinion and felt that the Iraqi’s may well have a civil war, but they will certainly take control of their country and make the tough decisions that lie ahead for them. All agreed that there were no good options available to the U.S. and the general public should be warned of what may lie ahead.
Senator Biden seemed to have a good idea in getting the U.N. Security Council involved and start a dialogue between Iraqi officials and officials of the surrounding countries. None of the countries around Iraq would benefit from an Iraq which is in civil war and destabilized. None of those countries will continue to assist al-qaeda once the U.S. has left. It was also suggested that the Senate get together and push for the withdrawal, fighting in a non-partisan manner against the current administration.
The hearings will continue next week with an appearance from General David Petraeus, the commanding officer in Iraq. Perhaps there is an end in sight!!! Stay tuned for more.
Senator Biden stated that the committee was interested in learning if the surge of combat troops in Iraq had met its stated goals, what was the military’s aim, can we win, and what will be the costs, both economically and militarily?
After opening statements from the four witnesses, a question and answer session was conducted by members of the committee. The members of the committee, including the chair and co-chair, included six democrats and five republicans.
The general consensus of the witnesses was now that we’re in this mess, how do we get out? All four witnesses felt that the U. S. military has to withdraw from Iraq because it can no longer sustain the current level of the military deployment. “The military is starting to unravel” stated General McCaffrey. The problems include multiple deployments of military personnel, the pressure on military families, poor recruitment, and shortages of arms and munitions. These concerns were not only for troops in Iraq, but all over the world.
The financial cost of the war was also discussed and since the costs of the war are not being paid but being added to the national debt, the costs were not only leading the U.S. into a recession but bankrupting future generations. Financial considerations also involved re-supplying and increasing the ranks of the military for the future.
So the question became, not if we should withdraw, but how, when, and what will be the outcome of our withdrawal. Again, all four witnesses agreed that the Iraqi government should be told that the U.S. was no longer writing a blank check for them and that they had to start making decisions for their future on their own. The next step was to start the actual gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. General Odem was of the opinion that the U.S. should withdraw immediately and that Iraq will fall into total chaos and civil war when we leave. General Scales had a more positive opinion and felt that the Iraqi’s may well have a civil war, but they will certainly take control of their country and make the tough decisions that lie ahead for them. All agreed that there were no good options available to the U.S. and the general public should be warned of what may lie ahead.
Senator Biden seemed to have a good idea in getting the U.N. Security Council involved and start a dialogue between Iraqi officials and officials of the surrounding countries. None of the countries around Iraq would benefit from an Iraq which is in civil war and destabilized. None of those countries will continue to assist al-qaeda once the U.S. has left. It was also suggested that the Senate get together and push for the withdrawal, fighting in a non-partisan manner against the current administration.
The hearings will continue next week with an appearance from General David Petraeus, the commanding officer in Iraq. Perhaps there is an end in sight!!! Stay tuned for more.
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