CBS/AP/ February 11, 2009, 5:44 PM

General Grilled By Congress

The top U.S. commander in the Middle East on Wednesday pitted his resistance to troop strength changes in Iraq against some of the Senate's most powerful lawmakers.

During testimony before the Senate Armed Services committee, Republican John McCain charged Gen. John Abizaid with "advocating the status quo" because he isn't seeking more troops for Iraq.

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports that after arguing against either a substantial buildup or cutback in U.S. troops, Abizaid made a stunning admission: The U.S. military does not have enough troops for a big buildup even if he wanted one.

"We can put in 20,000 more Americans tomorrow and achieve a temporary effect," said Abizaid. "But when you look at the overall American force pool that's available out there, the ability to sustain that commitment is simply not something that we have right now with the size of the Army and the Marine Corps."

Abizaid also went head to head with Democrats who want a phased pullout, saying timetables would limit commanders' flexibility in passing responsibility to Iraqi forces. He also said putting U.S. withdrawals on a schedule would increase sectarian violence.

In Abizaid's words, the "prudent course ahead is to keep the troop levels about where they are," a sentiment that puts him at odds with resurgent Democrats pressing President Bush to start pulling out of the violence-torn country.

Abizaid spoke as the committee began re-examining U.S. policy in the wake of last week's elections, which gave Democrats control of Congress starting next year and was widely seen as a repudiation of the administration's war policies.

McCain challenged Abizaid on his analysis of the situation and complained that he was advocating no major changes in U.S. policy. McCain, a possible 2008 presidential candidate, has called for adding thousands more U.S. combat troops in Iraq to help fight the insurgency and halt sectarian violence in Baghdad.

"I'm of course disappointed that basically you're advocating the status quo here today, which I think the American people in the last election said that is not an acceptable condition," McCain said.

RAW video McCain challenging Abizaid's stance.
In response, Abizaid said he was not arguing for the status quo. He said the key change that is needed now is to place more U.S. troops inside the Iraqi Army and police units to train and advise these forces in planning and executing missions.

Another possible 2008 presidential candidate, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., said she saw no evidence that conditions inside Iraq were improving.

"Hope is not a strategy," she said.

Citing administration claims of progress, she said, "The brutal fact is, it is not happening."

But even some Republicans on the Senate panel voiced a measure of frustration at the long and costly war in Iraq.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., the committee chairman, noted that the conflict has lasted as long as World War II, with the Iraqi government still unable to stand on its own and assert authority over security forces.

"How do you explain that in simple terms to the American people?" he asked in his opening statement.

Democrats have been coalescing around a call for beginning a U.S. withdrawal in coming months. In arguing against a timetable for troop withdrawals, Abizaid told the committee that he and other commanders need flexibility in managing U.S. forces and determining how and when to pass on responsibility to Iraqi forces.

"Specific timetables limit that flexibility," Abizaid said.

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© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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feelfree1 says:
General Abizaba has disgraced our country more than enough. His services are no longer required.

The Iraqi people have every right to defend themselves against the brutal and illegal occupiers of their country.

Watching Americans now try to blame the Iraqi people for the disaster that U.S foreign policy has created there, is disgusting.

Our "leaders" and their bloodthirsty supporters, don't seem to be able to take responsibilities for any of their failures or atrocities.
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says:
Perhaps we should just send them (the Iraqis) a few thousand new Playstations and they can kill on TV instead of real life
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says:
Most people do not know that the U.S never left that area after the Gulf War in 1991, people and supplies were constantly rotated out of Seymour Johnson AFB NC, as well as Fort Bragg, I know, I have spent nearly 3 years of my life there. Its been 16 years now that we have been flying over Iraq. Its time to bring our troops home and not hope we can achieve democracy, it just is not going to happen. These people love to fight, its in their blood, they inherited it from their fathers and grandfathers, and will hand it down their children
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firststate says:
I can apply the administration's logic to my previous post. My grammatical errors prove that I am improving because there could have been even more errors. The lack of those potential errors is progress, right?
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firststate says:
Abizaid thinks things are better than in August, the numbers say otherwise. He just returned so he knows the situation there. Could anyone expect anything else from an officer who survived the Rummy%u2019s purge of our competent and forthright military leaders? Did he leave the green zone or other highly fortified areas? Rather than a political hack who might have been a soldier at one time, I find powersmaker%u2019s point of view more realistic. Bravado like Americans not leaving a job unfinished and singing the national anthem are romantic but not practical. Two tours almost certainly provided a different point. Witnessing casualties among your friends must take away war%u2019s glamor, but powersmaker is still going back. The terms bravery, honor and patriotism come to mind. I offer my gratitude and respect for your service. My prayers are with you guys. We have to find realistic way to minimize the time your generation%u2019s heroes must face the danger there, by dumping failed strategies.

Abizaid and other generals have said that they need 4-6 months to turn the corner for a couple of years now. The argument that %u201Cwe%u2019re doing everything right%u201D doesn't work when the situation continues to get worse. More attacks on our troops than in October than August is NOT an improvement in the real world.
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powersmaker says:
WVopfor81 ... you just proved my point ...

I asked all the "pro stay the course" folks what they had done to support the war, and you answered me with a quote from Jefferson.

In the words of Garth Algar ... "Live in the now!"
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lestb35 says:

I doubt it but I'm sure he has many many times previous. What's your point?
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crystala7378 says:
I have 1 question. Does he stand on the frontline and put his life in danger?
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crystala7378 says:
I have 1 question. Does he stand on the frontline and put his life in danger?
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crystala7378 says:
I have 1 question. Does he stand on the frontline and put his life in danger?
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