Iraq Plan Draws Criticism, Mockery On Hill

President's Plan To Send More Troops To Iraq Meets Opposition From Both Democrats And Republicans

(CBS/AP)  President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq ran into a wall of criticism on Capitol Hill on Thursday as administration officials drew confrontational and sometimes mocking challenges from both Democrats and Republicans.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in response that the administration might abandon the increase if the Iraqi government doesn't do its part, but he provided no timetable. "I think most of us, in our minds, are thinking of it as a matter of months, not 18 months or two years," he told the House Armed Services Committee.

Bush and top members of his national security team sought to rally support for the troop buildup a day after he unveiled his plan for turning around a conflict that has lasted nearly four years and cost the lives of more than 3,000 American military personnel.

Instead, Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice found themselves embroiled in the first pitched exchanges in a battle that is likely to dominate Congress for months or longer and is already shaping the 2008 presidential election.

"I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it's carried out," Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., a potential 2008 presidential contender, told Rice.

As many as a dozen Republican senators could jump ship on the plan, reports CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger. As for the Democrats, their "no's" were nearly unanimous.

"Why should we give you the benefit of the doubt this time, when it appears so evident that so many mistakes have been made in the past?" said Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla.

His colleague, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., noted his own past support for the administration on the war but said he could not continue. He declared, "I have not been told the truth over and over again by administration witnesses, and the American people have not been told the truth."

Americans' opinions apparently were not swayed very much by President Bush's speech outlining his new strategy, according to a CBS News poll.

Fifty percent of those who saw the speech said they disapprove of the president's proposals, while 37 percent said they approve. Just one-third of those surveyed said they support Mr. Bush's call to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq.

Following the speech, 68 percent of Americans — the same number as prior to the speech — said they were uneasy about the president's ability to make decisions about Iraq.

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Read more about the CBS News poll
'08 Contenders Weigh In
Key Elements Of Bush Plan
Speech Excerpts
Congressional Response
World Reaction

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Bush, visiting with troops at Fort Benning, Ga., cautioned that the troop increase "is not going to yield immediate results. It's going to take a while."

The president's plan, outlined in a prime-time address to the nation on Wednesday, would raise troop levels in Iraq by 21,500 — from 132,000 to 153,500 — at a cost of $5.6 billion. It also calls for the Iraqi government to increase its own forces and to do more to quell sectarian violence

"American patience is limited, and obviously if the Iraqis fail to maintain their commitments we'll have to revisit our strategy," said Gates.

At one point Gates, just three weeks on the job, told lawmakers, "I would confess I'm no expert on Iraq." Later, asked about reaching the right balance between American and Iraqi forces, he told the panel he was "no expert on military matters."

Committee members pressed Gates, who replaced Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon, on an exit strategy for the United States.

"At the outset of the strategy, it's a mistake to talk about an exit strategy," he said.

Gates, in testimony to the committee and earlier at a news conference, said he was requesting increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps by 92,000 troops over the next five years. He also said the Pentagon would recall to duty sooner than planned some National Guard and Reserve troops who have served yearlong tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.

As Rice testified to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., likened Bush's plan to a "Hail Maliki pass" — jokingly combining Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's name with the football "Hail Mary" desperation pass.

The U.S. led a coalition that invaded Iraq in March 2003, despite failing to win U.N. Security Council support. The government of Saddam Hussein quickly crumbled and Bush declared major combat operations over two months later.

Bush's war effort initially had strong support, both in Congress and among other Americans. Yet that support has eroded as violence has continued.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he hoped to bring up a nonbinding resolution next week expressing opposition to any troop buildup. A similar move is expected in the House.

Reid, in a Senate speech, said Bush ignored the results of November's midterm elections that ended 12 years of GOP control of Congress, the advice of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group and that of his own top generals. "In choosing to escalate the war, the president virtually stands alone," Reid said.

The Senate's top Republican, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, threatened a filibuster — a delaying tactic — to block any legislation expressing disapproval of the buildup plan.

McConnell conceded that GOP lawmakers as well as Democrats are troubled by Bush's new policy, but he said, "Congress is completely incapable of dictating the tactics of the war."

Options for critics of the war to try forcing its end are limited, given the slim margin of Democratic control, especially in the Senate. But votes stating symbolic opposition to the troop buildup could embarrass many Republicans leery of supporting Bush's plan.

Rice appeared in the morning before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and in the afternoon before the House counterpart. She was grilled sharply by members of both parties.

Not a single member of the Senate panel expressed outright support for the president's plan. One after another offered skepticism on various points — from the rationale for the war to al-Maliki's sincerity and resolve, from the need for additional troops to the administration's ruling out talking to Iran and Syria.

"You're going to have to do a much better job" explaining the rationale for the war, "and so is the president," said Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio. He said Mr. Bush could no longer count on his support for the war.

Rice acknowledged widespread skepticism among Americans. "I want you to know that I understand and indeed feel the heartbreak that Americans feel at the continued sacrifice of American lives," she said.

Rice engaged several tense exchanges with members, including with Hagel, a Vietnam veteran and longtime critic of Bush's Iraq policy. She disputed his characterization of Bush's buildup as an "escalation."

"Putting in 22,000 more troops is not an escalation?" Hagel asked. Responded Rice: "I think, senator, escalation is not just a matter of how many numbers you put in."

"Would you call it a decrease?" Hagel asked.

"I would call it, senator, an augmentation that allows the Iraqis to deal with this very serious problem that they have in Baghdad," she said.

When Rice disputed Hagel's contention that Iraq was in the throes of civil war, Hagel shot back: "To sit there and say that, that's just not true."

Said Committee Chairman Joe Biden of Delaware: "I believe the president's strategy is not a solution, Secretary Rice. I believe it's a tragic mistake."

Rice told senators there was a "national imperative not to fail."

The Senate panel was flush with 2008 presidential hopefuls and possible contenders, including Hagel, Biden and Democrats John Kerry of Massachusetts, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Barack Obama of Illinois.

Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., another presidential hopeful, said after a meeting at the White House that he was concerned about al-Maliki's capabilities as well as "whether these are sufficient number of troops."

But, he said, "I do think we can succeed." McCain is among a handful of lawmakers who have called for more — not fewer — U.S. troops in Iraq.

[inventagod]

Bu$h is backed into a corner, and dangerous men do dangerous things. I can't help but wonder if he has another 9/11 in the wings....

[lieberman18]

Hagel, fought in Vietnam, hates fighting Islamofascists, hates Bush, Supports the PLO - even to the left of McLame...

Wrong party, Chuckie baby. And isolationism went out at Pearl Harbor. Do you remember Pearl Harbor, Chuckie???

Maybe we can trade you to the losers, the defeatists and the clowns for my namesake. Much better choice. The party of cowards, crooks, bigots, ILLEGALISTAS, perverts, drunk intern killers, and fascists. The Democrats!

[drinuk]

Oh! Lieberman are you still here shouting your big mouth off. Once we sort out Israel the problems over.

[ghareeb2-2009]

stupid man ruling stupid men,americans deserve Bush

[nyckate]

janem4 - Chuck Hagel called it the worst political blunder since Vietnam - gee - now he's on the left too?? That's the foolishness and childishness we've come to expect from Bush supporters - the fasist in you forces you to decry any and all who don't agree with you.

[ghareeb2-2009]

Stupid man leading stupid men, americans deserve Bush (Egyptian watching happily the bad end of america in Iraq)with my best regards to the great heroes in Iraq,those defending their country and killing the americans all over Iraq.

[music35-2009]

janem4 you are right. I'm a liberal, or least always thought of myself as one. I've tried to always listen to both sides, and have always sided with the liberal view. However, new to blogs, forums, etc., etc. I have gained insight into how "my side" fights/debates. I don't like it. I"m actually thinking I'm on the dark side.

Fellow liberals, why do we go so low to prove a point? I don't see the conservatives doing this so much (unless they are extreme right). They are more convincing in driving their points than all the noise and poison we spew out. I'm ashamed.

Look, I don't care for this war, but as an American, I want us to win. That's all I have to say.

Any liberal out there wanting to save me and change me mind? I would appreciate it. I'm so confused right now.

[pakaal]

janem4, I assume you didn't happen to notice the posting below yours from janeymcgreevey, oh sorry, she's under new managment and now calls herself lieberman18.

It's indicative of the extreme lack of awareness on the part of commentors like yourself that you can comment about "mocking and name-calling from the Left" while ignoring the exact same "mocking and name-calling" from your own ilk.

The good news is that as people wake up from the nightmare of Bush's rubber stamp congress, there'll be more and more people choosing to say no to escalation in Iraq. Then JaneyMcGreevey, oops, did it again, I mean Lieberman18, will have even more people to slander.

[jn122736]

music35
the only comment on this page stooping to name calling is; lieberman18 at 06:51 PM : Jan 11, 2007
Are you refering to him as a liberal?

[music35-2009]

jn122736

Definately not calling lieberman18 a liberal. I'm just refering to comments from our side from all the reading I've done on CBS opinion. Just a general statement analysis. Sorry I didn't clarify.

[pakaal]

music35, win what?

Terrorism? Never happen as long as anyone is oppressed enough on earth to kill themselves to make a point. Hell, if America was invaded by a foreign country I might be tempted to blow myself up and take some oppressors with me. What patriot wouldn't? Not arguing right or wrong, stating human truth.

Iraq? We win by doing what our best intelligence experts, generals on the ground, diplomats, the Iraqi people, etc., recommend - get our troops out. Unfortunately for all the "listening" he did, it looks like Bush doesn't want to hear that.

[jn122736]

music35 at 07:27 PM : Jan 11, 2007

I have to agree with you about there being too much name-calling and insults, however I find it in comments from both sides.
People should keep their comments more civil. Look on the bright side, at least they are doing the name calling and insulting from the safety of their keyboards not fighting actual duels like some did very early on in politics.

[music35-2009]

Come on pakaal. You know they don't blow themselves up cause we are there. That's ridiculous. They blow themselves up in any country they are in. "Oppressed" or not.

Man, I guess I am on the wrong side. I better stop calling myself a liberal before I really start hating my own country and blaming it for all the troubles in the world. I'm out of here.

[frankly6]

music35

Get a life no one is buying the liberal routine.

[lieberman18]

notice who supports you, left wing fascist clowns - DRinUK whose once great country is rapidly embracing Sharia and the Chamberlain doctrine.

And blaming it on Israel - just like you blamed Czechoslovakia for Herr Hitler in '38. Notice DR, (dumb red? - lol) how the old Eastern bloc countries are close to Israel - they know what it is like to be betrayed by stiff upper lip guys like you.

And then there's Mo's relative, Ghareeb2. If you don't know who Mo is - think Mohammed Atta, the babykiller. His specialty was women and children. And like Ghareeb, an Egyptian Islamonazi.

Israel until Oslo and Olmert had the right approach to terrorism, kill first then ask questions later. BTW - little DR, that was also the British government's approach to dealing with the IRA. Now, Kadima, like your hero Gordon Brown's - and the dummies who love Pelosi and the Drunk Intern Killer, would rather appease.

Unfortunately you can't appease or surrender to a Hitler. But then again, you couldn't figure that one out unless it fell on you.

Which it might.

[frankly6]

music35

Funny, they weren't blowing themselves up before we got there. Must be a coincidence. Mmmmkay.

[lieberman18]

pakaal, little clown - who is JaneMcGreevey?

I know who your heroes Bobby Byrd and Barney Frank are - not to mention traitor John, the drunk intern killer, and plastic princess pelosi. But pray tell me, who is Jane?

Unless that's the psuedonym for another one of your heroes - the former perverted governor of New Jersey.

[pakaal]

"They blow themselves up in any country they are in. "Oppressed" or not.

Huh? Trying to figure out what you mean Music35, people are walking around blowing themselves up for no apparent reason? Sandinistas, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, even Christians blowing themselves up in cases throughout recent history did so "just because"?

"Man, I guess I am on the wrong side."

Actually, I don't know which side you're on. I'm on America's side, and on the side of learning history - something a lot of folks don't do enough of. Of course there are reasons for people doing things. You might not like the reasons, or even understand them, but saying "it's crazy" means you'll never be able to figure out what the most effective means are of stopping them.

"I'm out of here."

Yeah, OK, bye!

[frankly6]

liebershitzel

I wish that you were more intelligent. You might be a better representative of your cause. As it stands, you make all conservatives look like morons by association.

[lieberman18]

franklydumb,

please look at yourself in the mirror.

gosh, i love insulting your types. . .it draws out the hate filled venom you sorry bozos are so full of.

No wonder why you hate America, hate Bush, love Pelosi, and yearn for Sharia. Because you are totally vacant. Clowns, really. Fascist clowns.

As for my like mind brothers who might be uncomfortable with my tactics: Not to worry - I just enjoy seeing the sewer drinkers and Neo-fascists reveal their true colors. They are a bunch of bozos in their Bushhatefest - and that's insulting Bozo. Just like comparing a coward and bigot like Jimmy Carter to Howdy Doody insults Howdy Doody.

[pakaal]

Oh, janeymcgreevey you're here! Just in time to repeat more Neocon catchphrases. Go for it kiddo, tell us more about "Robert KKK Byrd" and all those other trite phrases you constantly use no matter what your username is. Do you really think you're fooling folks with multiple names? Oh, or maybe JaneyMcGreevey will make a guest appearance now and prove me wrong.

Anyway Janeymcgreevey, er, sorry, lieberman18, you go ahead and rant away about liberal media, the horrors of the Democrats, tell me to shut up like you did before, etc.

Better yet, you love this war so much, go fight it yourself. What was the phrase you used about me the other day? "No excuses, just shut up and enlist." Go for it girl, it's obvious you're needed over there, and you seem more than ready to send others too, so don't just talk the talk, time for you to walk the walk.

[frankly6]

liebershitzel


Again I really wish that you were more intelligent. Your posts would be more than incoherant rants. Maybe you could find an adult to post for you?

[frankly6]

liebershitzel?

[agnim]

A "Hail Maliki pass" AT THE EXPENSE OF AMERICAN LIVES AND LIMBS!
How rotten!

We need to do something fast to save more American lives and limbs from being carelessly tossed in the Iraqi fire by A LUNATIC LEADER WITH NO HEART FOR HIS OWN COUNTRYMEN!

[the74blaster]

The party of cowards, crooks, bigots, ILLEGALISTAS, perverts, drunk intern killers, and fascists. The Democrats!

Watch your ledger!


Interesting point of view? I think a more logical conclusion is that both parties have plenty of these to go around. However, I believe the article discusses the strong congressional opposition to Bush's Iraq policy.

However, since some of us believe the GOP is without fault, I think one fact needs to stated.

Annual federal surplus that Bush inherited from Clinton 234 Billion.

Current annual federal deficit around 400 Billion.

This is approximately a 634 Billion change in 6 years of leadership. Nice Job!

Do I need to say more as to why congress might be rebelling against this presidency? I wonder if it has anything to do with the record of failure!

[frankly6]

liebershitzel must be looking for an adult now.

[lieberman18]

hey clowns,

you love america - then exchange places with a 20 something kid who is willing to lay his or her life on the line for something pathetic as you are. pakaal - you're so brave, go and fight the Islamonazis. What? You won't even go to Afghanistan...speaks volumes about your credibility. But of course, the circus is much more important - and staying on to spew and vomit is too.

Not the kid who helps to guarantee the stupid mumblings of losers like yourself, NYCKAKA, and the fruitcake who keeps ranting liberschnitzel...
Or the Chamberlain lover over in London - remember, Neville ol' chum gave you the Blitz - Osama will only nuke the sh*t out of you.

[madumpty]

lieberman18 is well named he is probably about 18 from the look of his childish rants. Typical of the right too, thinking name calling and slavish devotion to the Shrub is heroic i guess. Hey guy get your head out of your a** and stop getting all your 'facts' from Pat Robertson or Fox entertainment.
Bush is a major disaster for this country and we are the laughing stock of the rest of the world...that is the rest of the world that doesn't want to lob bombs at us because of his stupidity.

[pakaal]

frankly6, you're wasting your time. janemcgreeve, sorry, lieberman18 seems to be some type of autoresponder that chooses one of 1,000 Neocon-approved catchphrases, strings 'em together and posts until it gets enough complaints, then reregisters under a different name. i don't know that i've ever heard any positive plans or solutions from it, just pithy comebacks.

[agnim]

He has 'heart' for his dad who was only ALLEGEDLY threatened; but he has no heart for Americans who are being wasted in the Iraqi hell hole.

[lieberman18]

dumbty? the name says it best...ha ha ha.

[pakaal]

"you love america - then exchange places with a 20 something kid who is willing to lay his or her life on the line."

Missed the point as usual janeymcgreevey. Only those who SUPPORT this insane war need apply - waiting for you to put the keyboard down and do what you keep telling everyone else to do.

Not to mention that even the majority of those kids you wish to go to Iraq are now saying they don't think it's helping. Now's the time, kiddo, your country needs you - go enlist.

[frankly6]

liebershitzel

Are you still having trouble puting your thoughts into complete sentences and paragraphs.

That's so sad. I feel sorry for people like you. I know why your bitter though. It must have been really imbarrassing taking the short bus to school every morning.

[lieberman18]

personally you hate Bush, hate America bozos are starting to bore me. You talk about my cliches - look at your own.

At least one or two of you have had the honesty, if not just the bigotry, to place the blame on the Jooz - not the NeoCons as most of your prefrontal lobotomied lefties do. Of course clowns, that's who your allies in HateBushFest really are - the Nazis of the world.

If you love the Arabs and Muslims so much, go and live with them ... let's see how long you'd last.

[lieberman18]

No bozos on the Islamonazi bus. But hey, I'm sure Abdul the friendly throatslitter will welcome all of MoveOn.Org, Neo-Fascist clowns with open arms - and a sword slicing down towards your empty heads...

Tee Hee Hee

[pakaal]

Let's see you go enlist, liebermanmcgreevey. You're obviously ready to replace one of those 20 year old kids over there. I think that's admirable. No more talk, go enlist!

[frankly6]

liebershitzel

Huh? Not sure what you are talking about. Did you find an adult to post for you yet?

[jimfinster]

lieberclown:

I don't hate Bush. I don't hate America. But I do hate you and your mindless posts. Buzz off.

[mdc76082]

lieberman18,

Why don't you get off your 18 yr old punk conservative duff and go over there and trade places with one of the brave. Sonny, I did it for 22 years and if theyd let me do it again Id gladly sign the dotted line again! Or better yet, why don't you go and volunteer your time down at your local VA hospital and see what Rush Limbaugh, Tony Snow, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, etc., won't show you or tell you. Hell, none of them ever fought anything tougher than a piece of papertowel on a roll. Quit listening to "Talk Radio" in general. No matter what political affiliation, it "ALL POLLUTES YOUR MIND". Quit living their lives through your life. Think & do for yourself!

[antoniof123]

It does not matter what is done now the damage is now a fire ball and will continue to grow until it burns itself out. This is the way that fire consumes the only way to put out a fire storm is to let it burn itself out. Sorry for the late response but now is the time to get out of the way it is going to blow and no matter what this idiot in the Whitehouse says it is too late. Unless we kill all of them if that is OK then lets do it otherwise get out.

[nyckate]

lieberman18 - your posts are quite illuminating - you like george w. have the maturity of an emotionally stunted 13 year old who's been left back 3-4 times and looks forward to picking on 8 year olds in the schoolyard.

It's also teh in part the reason you aren't in iraq putting your life on teh line for george w. - the US armed forces don't take kids who took the Special Bus - not yet at least.

[pakaal]

Hmm, when faced with the prospect of enlisting, liebermcgreevey18 cuts and runs. What a cowardly act.

[lucasnico]

This war has been wrong since day one. It doesn't matter whether or not you've served in the military, do serve in the military, do not serve, or won't serve.....it will not change the status or the outcome. We have an idiot in the white house and he must be stopped.....bring our troops home to their families.

[pakaal]

george2221, when I have lots of money, I'll let you know.

[j-whitman]

Pakaal,,,, Let me know too

[miltpan72]

LUCASNICO.....You make some interesting comments. I can guess from your stance that you are a liberal. As far as the war goes, it was not wrong from day one. An insane maniac was brought from power. He was tried and convicted and is now "underground" where he belongs. Our country should take a page from the swiftness of the trial and install it back into our legal system. If you think there were no WMD's or that Hussein should have stayed in power. Do these 2 things for me. 1. Google "WMD's moved to Syria" and 2. Do 5 minutes of research on Hussein. If you have any brains, your opinion of the war might change. NYCKate...I will not waste my time with you. You are obviously a flaming liberal...too blinded by politics to see anything for what it really is. The War may not be perfect, but you are talking about and area of the world that has been at war for hundreds of years. It is not going to change overnight or even in a couple years. It will take time (and bodies) but we started it and we must not leave until the job is done. You don't leave something like that half done. I haven't heard of another terrorist attack since 9/11 on our soil (which by the way was Clinton's biggest failure for letting Bin Laden go under the radar for years). Thank God we have a man in office that will take charge and when put in command will actually command. I do not agree with everything that Republicans stand for, but they are much better at National Security.

[pakaal]

I doubt you'll find too many people who DON'T support the troops themselves, much as some on the Neocon front would have Americans believe. I'm proud of all my family, many of whom have served from WWI onward.

The phrase I use is "Support the troops, condemn Bush."

Even that's oversimplifying, since I don't think any of this was Bush's idea in the first place. But he is the C in C, comes with the territory.

[j-whitman]

Tony Snow said today "I love the guy I work for" -- Move over Foley, you've got company

[fascistusa]

Welcome to The New World Corporate Order.

Fascist America.

Truth, Honor, and Democracy are DEAD.

Lord BUSH is a FASCIST. A NAZI. A DICTATOR.

[j-whitman]

I heard the Twins bought land in Argentina