Envoy Says US Sticking To Withdrawal Plan In Iraq

Source: Associated Press

(09-10) 14:04 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) --

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq told Congress on Thursday that despite a recent rash of insurgent attacks, the U.S. is on track to removing all its combat forces by next August. "We are holding to this timetable," Christopher Hill told the House Foreign Affairs Committee in his first congressional testimony since taking over the top U.S. diplomatic post in Baghdad in April.

The envoy faced skepticism, however, from lawmakers concerned that despite a general downward trend in violence, Iraqi forces may not be ready next year to maintain security amid declining U.S. support.

Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., addressing Hill at a separate hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was more concerned about how a U.S. withdrawal is carried out than its exact timing.

"For our own part, serious questions remain about our policies going forward and our strategy," Lugar said. "The president and the vice president continue to speak about troops coming home at the end of 2011, but we do not have a clear understanding of how that withdrawal will occur under optimal conditions, much less worst-case scenarios."

At the House hearing, Hill said he is encouraged that the recent violence, including dual bombings of the Iraqi finance and foreign ministries Aug. 19 that killed about 100 people, has failed to push Iraq back to the brink of civil war.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/0...

seems unaware that the Republicans lost control of the Senate in Jan 2007.

Both Kerry and Finegold (where did we hear those names together before with regards to Iraq.) asked questions about the timing as well. Hill also said that the political and economic issues that the surge was suppose to provide the "space" to resolve are not resolved. (Kerry pointed out that Rice 4 years ago spoke of being "close" on negotiating the distribution of oil revenues - which is still not done.)

Interestingly, Hill agreed with Kerry that the US embassy was too big even for the current transition to an increased civilian role and a decreasing military role. In addition, in the answer to about 3 questions, Hill responded that the impact of the US pulling out of the cities is greater trust in the US doing what it said it would - and that there is a desire on the part of the Iraqis that Iraqis protect Iraq. (All things Kerry had said since forever.)

Here's the link to the hearing - http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg090909p.html (click on the title)

Or just bogged down?

Here's a link to the hearing, that was chaired by Kerry, not Lugar though the AP	karynnj	Sep-10-09 06:23 PM	#1
Sticking with, or stuck in?	damntexdem	Sep-10-09 06:42 PM	#2