Reply #10: U.S. Republican senator says Iraq war similar to Vietnam

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. Republican senator says Iraq war similar to Vietnam
Sun Aug 21, 2005 1:11 PM ET

By Sue Pleming
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Influential Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska said on Sunday the longer the United States stayed bogged down in Iraq, the more it looked like another Vietnam.

"What I think the White House does not yet understand and some of my colleagues, is the dam has broken on this (Iraq) policy," said Hagel, a senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee and possible presidential candidate in 2008.

Hagel's comments in an interview with ABC's "This Week," coincide with President George W. Bush's new offensive to counter growing public discontent over U.S. involvement in Iraq and calls for a pull-out date.

Bush is taking his message on the road this week when he will invoke the September 11, 2001, attacks to contend that the United States must stay the course in Iraq, warning that an early withdrawal would put the country's security at risk and destabilize the Middle East.
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http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-21T171129Z_01_MOL161657_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAQ-USA-DC.XML