Generals Warn Iraq Civil War Possible

Gen. John Abizaid Says Sectarian Violence Is 'As Bad As I Have Seen It'

(CBS/AP)  Their assessments echoed those in a confidential report from Britain's outgoing ambassador to Iraq. Ambassador William Patey, in a memo to top British officials quoted Thursday by the BBC, said Iraq is sliding toward civil war and is likely to divide eventually along ethnic lines.

Rumsfeld, who testified alongside Abizaid and Pace, did not comment directly on the prospect of civil war but said Iraq's future lay in the hands of Iraqis, beginning with a reconciliation process that has yet to get under way.

"Ultimately the sectarian violence is going to be dealt with by Iraqis," Rumsfeld said.

CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss reports Rumsfeld was read the riot act by several Democrats, especially Hillary Clinton who said he spent years spinning rosy scenarios while presiding over a failed and incompetent policy.

He denied that he had ever "painted a rosy picture" of the situation in Iraq.

Pressed about the prospect of reducing U.S. troop levels in Iraq, Rumsfeld stuck to his usual assertion that it depends on conditions and on the ability of the Iraqi government to suppress sectarian tensions. He said the Pentagon is seeking a careful balance between having too few troops and having too many.

"That's a fair tension there," Rumsfeld said.

President Bush last week approved an increase in the number of U.S. troops in Baghdad as part of a new effort to help Iraqi security forces get a grip on the sectarian tensions.

Abizaid also said under questioning that it was possible that U.S. casualties could rise as a result of the battle to contain sectarian violence in the capital.

"I think it's possible that in the period ahead of us in Baghdad that we'll take increased casualties — that's possible," he said.

Later in the hearing, Abizaid expressed confidence that the Iraqi government is moving in the right direction.

He also told the committee that his comment about the possibility of civil war did not mean he expects one. "Speaking for myself, I do not believe it is probable," Pace said.

The surge in sectarian violence has prompted the U.S. command to move thousands of additional troops to Baghdad to try to reclaim the streets from gunmen.

On Wednesday, sectarian and political violence claimed at least 53 lives, including 11 young soccer players and spectators who died when two bombs exploded in a field in a Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad. More than 70 people were killed on Tuesday.

According to figures compiled from Iraqi security and health department figures, more than 1,000 civilians, 135 members of security forces and 143 insurgents were killed nationwide in July. In addition, 1,800 civilians were injured.