Posted by
cehwiedel on Thursday, December 21, 2006 7:35:46 PM
A while back, I emailed my senior senator regarding the situation in Iraq. She finally responded:
Thank you for your letter concerning the situation in Iraq. I
appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important issue and
welcome the opportunity to respond.
President Bush's "stay the course" strategy has failed. On
top of the serious intelligence blunders prior to the war, the
Administration's war planning was shortsighted and ill-conceived,
providing inadequate troop levels to secure Iraq, its infrastructure,
and its people. The current situation, in which sectarian violence
wreaks havoc throughout the country, killing dozens of Iraqi
civilians every day and entangling our soldiers in a treacherous
quagmire, is unsustainable.
In the recent election, the American people expressed clear
disapproval with this Administration's Iraq policies. With the
resignation of Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld and the confirmation
of Dr. Robert Gates to replace him, I believe it is time for this
Administration to create a new, responsible strategy for Iraq.
Congress must work together and across party lines to provide the
support and oversight needed for this new mission to succeed.
As the Iraq Study Group's report suggests, we ought to
accelerate the training of Iraqi forces in order to restore security in
Iraq's neighborhoods and towns. Our military's mission should
change from combat to one focused primarily on providing
logistics, training, and support. By early 2008, Iraqi military and
police forces must take primary responsibility for the security of
their country.
At the same time, military force alone will not resolve
sectarian tensions and violence in Iraq. Strengthening Iraq's
political leadership and encouraging serious and fruitful dialogue
between Iraqi Shi'as, Sunnis, and Kurds is critical to Iraq's ability
to stand on its own once American troops leave. Domestic
reconciliation efforts must be accompanied by a diplomatic
initiative, including Iran and Syria, to build an international
consensus on Iraq's reconstruction and address ongoing regional
disputes.
Finally, I expect incoming Secretary of Defense Gates to be
attentive to the views of our commanders on the ground. The
failure of this Administration to heed the warnings of experienced
military officers is a major reason for our failures in Iraq.
This war has distracted us from the important struggle
against terrorism, tying down our forces and creating a breeding-
ground for terrorists. It is time for a change. Please be assured
that I will continue to work hard across party lines in the 110th
Congress to promote a better strategy in Iraq. We owe it to the
American people, our troops, and the people of Iraq.
She regards the Iraq Study Group and its report as the bee's knees. Oy.
[You are invited to visit
www.cehwiedel.com, where I write on many topics other than the members of the California delegation to the United States Senate.]