Congressional Battle Over Iraq Heats Up

(CBS/AP)  With debate intensifying in Washington about when to bring home U.S. troops in Iraq, the Baker-Hamilton Commission that called for all troops to be out by next spring may go back to work, reports CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

"We gave the president an opportunity a few months ago for a bipartisan solution to Iraq," said co-chair Lee H. Hamilton. "He chose not to follow that immediately. I think the realities on the ground have made our proposals more attractive."

The House of Representatives passed a bill providing a million dollars to reconstitute Baker-Hamilton, adds Axelrod. Hamilton says while conditions in Iraq have changed since their initial report last fall, their main point has not: the security of Baghdad's neighborhoods shouldn't be the priority for U.S. forces — training Iraqi troops should be.

"I mean, the only way you really get out of there is to make that the primary mission of U.S. forces," said Hamilton.

But a Congressional investigation concludes that after spending $19 billion on exactly that, the Iraqi security forces are not yet ready to assume responsibility for the nation's security, Axelrod reports.

Investigators charge that the Department of Defense cannot report how many of the 346,500 Iraqi military and police personnel are operational today.

In other developments:

The U.S. military announced Wednesday that coalition forces killed a senior al-Qaida leader and his courier, both Turks, in an operation in northern Iraq. Mehmet Yilmaz, also known as Khalid al-Turki, operated a cell that facilitated the movement of foreign fighters into Iraq for al-Qaida operations, U.S. Central Command said in a statement.

After four years of combat and more than 3,560 U.S. deaths, two Republican senators previously reluctant to challenge President Bush on the war announced they could no longer support the deployment of 157,000 troops and asked the president to begin bringing them home.

CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said a GOP senator told him that even Republican senators who will support the president publicly are not enthusiastic about the surge strategy.

Five policemen were killed in Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad, a hospital official said on condition of anonymity out of security concerns. Afterward, police opened fire randomly on the area, killing one civilian and wounding two others, the official said.

Five civilians died in northern Baghdad, when a bomb planted under a car exploded, police said. Ten people were also injured in the blast, they said.

In the al-Bashir area, about 15 miles south of Kirkuk, gunmen attacked a police station and clashes erupted, police Brig. Sarhat Qadir said. Four policemen were killed and two others hurt, he said.

Unknown gunmen opened fire on a civilian car in a southwestern section of the capital, killing a man and wounding his son who was riding with him, police said.

Police said gunmen opened fire on a minibus in western Baghdad, injuring five civilians including the driver. The victims were two Shiite men and their wives, heading to the Shiite holy city of Najaf, south of the capital, police said. The shooting took place in a predominantly Sunni Muslim neighborhood.

Four pedestrians were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded in eastern Baghdad, in the commercial Palestine Street area, police said. The bomb had apparently targeted a U.S. military convoy, but there was no word on any American casualties, they added.

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[long_rider]

The chimp and vice chimp have been running wild for eight years, so why the sudden interest?

You can tell election time is nearing, such cries of indignation, and out rage. The American people have been taking the high-hard-one for so long they are getting use to it.

Our form of government is evolving into something that the designers were trying to prevent, a government owned, and run by big business.

American people don't know the price that has been paid by our past generations, so they are going to have to suffer a fools fate.

We have to take control of our government, and restrict the abilities of government contractors, and large corporations.

Democracy is dissapearing, and the true intent of our form of government is rapidly becomming a thing of the past. What rules our country now is greed, lies, and citizens who just don't care.

[prinzowhales]

Lugar is simply being disingenious with his suggestion that NOW Bush has 'an opportunity to pursue a bipartisan Iraq policy'. The policy has ALWAYS been bipartisan. If you look at Kerry's positions, they were even more bellicose than those of Bush.

The problem now if for this bipartisan 'leadership' to weasel their way off the gallows. Now, when it is perfectly obvious that the case for war was built on lies, that all of these people died for nothing...they want to distance themselves from the political fallout. Bush could not have accomplished what he has without their complicity. Hang 'em High!

[j-whitman]

Folks,, You have to look at the bright side -- No bid contracts are up 43% over last year.

[drummer94]

19 BILLION dollars and they ain't trained? How much training do they need? It's their towns aren't they. Shouldn't they already know their streets,alleys,etc." Heres training for you: The clip goes here. This is the full rock-n-roll lever. Grab some cover and shoot at that guy over there that is shootin' at you. Sheesh.

[smirk5]

"BAGHDAD - Twenty beheaded bodies were discovered Thursday on the banks of the Tigris River southeast of Baghdad, while a parked car bomb killed another 20 people in one of the capital's busy outdoor bus stations, police said."

More of Bush's Progress. His surge isn't going to work. Of course, many generals already knew that. Bush doubled down on more American lives and lost. He'll keep losing. That's what he does.

[toldyouso21]

Several thousand Al-Qaida members had no good reason to attack us on 9-11.

Thanks to the Shrub, several million Iraqi's have an excellent reason- revenge! I can only pray that they are more understanding, and forgiving, than our own neocons have been.
Posted by ubrew12 at 01:47 AM : Jun 28, 2007

Actually, in the eyes of many in the ME, Al Qaeda and many people in the ME have every reason to despise the US. We are perceived as the puppet masters for Israel. We not only provide billions in welfare since Israel's inception; whenever there is an altercation or event, we side with Israel even when we know they are wrong. if you want a bird's eye view of how the world views America with Israel--remember the invasion of Lebanon last yr. Remember it started NOT with kidnapping but with 2 unprovoked strikes by Israel into Palestine--both killed civilians not terrorists (one group on a picnic another in a minivan) when Israel and Hezbollah started, we warned the world to let the two countries sort it out and to mind their own business and within days, we were fed exing cluster bombs to Israel. So much for staying out. To many, to strike at America is finally to strike at the true master instead of the puppet. So in many minds the strike by Al Qaeda was long over due. We pay for the company we keep. Not that we should not support Israel. But if we claim to be brokers for peace--we might want to support peace instead of either side after 40 years of fighting and killing.

[ubrew12]

"WHEN YOU INVADE A COUNTRY, THE PEOPLE ARE NEVER YOUR FRIENDS, THEY WILL NEVER LIKE YOU AND IF YOU KILL/HARM THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND DESTROY THEIR CITIES, THEY WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU." Posted by toldyouso21 at 12:37 AM : Jun 28, 2007

Several thousand Al-Qaida members had no good reason to attack us on 9-11.

Thanks to the Shrub, several million Iraqi's have an excellent reason- revenge! I can only pray that they are more understanding, and forgiving, than our own neocons have been.

[velomoteur-2009]

Many congratulations to Mika Brzezinski for her stand against Paris Hilton story and her producer. Medias are too often making heroes and celebrities about people who are not worth it by far.
It is the same here in Australia, we are bombarded and saturated by the medias with similar headlines about shalow celebrities.There are so many more worthwhile topics.

[toldyouso21]

Americans have made the mistake of believing their own lies and hype. We actually are trying to act like some Iraqis are our friends, want to help us, want us to succeed and will aid us in every way. Only the collaborators we pay do that, the rest know this is our war to lose and if they can, they'd rather collect the paycheck but NOT die defending or promoting our objectives.

So when cars come through that need to be checked and they are advised for the sake of their families or themselves not to (an no Americans are around) they wave them through. Why should they get blown up helping invaders have a victory in their own country? This is sooo obvious...understand this:

WHEN YOU INVADE A COUNTRY, THE PEOPLE ARE NEVER YOUR FRIENDS, THEY WILL NEVER LIKE YOU AND IF YOU KILL/HARM THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND DESTROY THEIR CITIES, THEY WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU.

Iraqis are pragmatic, they have to eat. So they sign up for the jobs and take the check. Then 25% or more don't even bother to come in to work--except for the true collaborators. They are bought men, they are tolerated since they often play both sides, but if they go too far in cooperating (like the Sheiks did) they are killed. The Iraqis are not on our side, even the ones we pay for aren't. They go to the highest bidder, and in their best possible world, if they can get paid by the US AND take a bribe to let a bomber into the green zone or elsewhere--more money. so much the better. Smarten UP America.

[jetranger7]

well if just half of the idiots who voted for this bush/cheney idiot, would of researched his tenure as govenor of texas, they would of seen what a flunky degenerate lowlife redneck he was while he was govenor of texas !! he didn't do texas any favors when he was govenor did he ???? isn't texas a southern border state, with lots of illegals crossing over, even when he was the govenor of texas !!!! you bet he was, did he do anything to help stop it - "NO" !!!!!!!!!!!!! BUSH AND CHENEY ARE THE MOST CORRUPT Presidents to hold office in that White House since Nixon !! They've practically destroyed this country with their corruption, arrogrant antics, outright lies, and bad decision making, most likely done on purpose !! BUSH / CHENEY are a FRAUD !!!!! WWW.INFOWARS.COM