Two Republicans seek audit of U.S. Iraq operations

[Oilwellian]

By Vicki Allen

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Two Republican U.S. congressmen just back from a trip to Iraq urged President George W. Bush on Tuesday to accept an independent panel to audit U.S. operations there, and called on him to acknowledge mistakes that they said set back Iraq's recovery by months.

Reps. Frank Wolf of Virginia and Christopher Shays of Connecticut also urged the administration to give Iraqis a bigger voice in rebuilding their own country, and to show more "humility" in sharing power and being open to differing ideas.

Wolf and Shays, who said they believed they were the only congressmen to travel in Iraq outside U.S. military auspices, also said Bush should redouble efforts to get more international help in Iraq including creating an alliance modeled on NATO to develop Iraq's law enforcement.

They also called on him to appoint a special envoy -- possibly former President George H.W. Bush -- to focus on the Arab-Israeli conflict, saying Mideast peace was key to stemming terrorism worldwide.

Shays said the administration "wasted two months" after the major conflict in Iraq, and the administration should "acknowledge that, be upfront about miscalculations. It gives more validity to what you say afterward because people know you're speaking honestly."

http://www.forbes.com/markets/newswire/2003/12/09/rtr1174969.html

[wtmusic]

1. Wow -- that Republican message is starting to sound very Democratic

can't really fess up to that, can they?

[9215]

2. WEEEEEEE!!!! I want you to sq

ueal like a fucking piiiiigyeeeee!. WEEEEEEEE! OINK!!!! WEEEEE!!!! OINK!!!!

fuck intellectualism!!!!!

[Eloriel]

3. kick