Lawmakers Fear Lack of Progress on Iraq [View All]

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is falling short in its efforts to rebuild Iraq, increase oil production and spawn a new government that is representative of all factions there, lawmakers of both parties said Tuesday.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld heard from critics including panel Chairman John Warner, R-Va. The comments marked a continuation of bipartisan criticism the administration has received in recent months from members of Congress over its Iraq policies.

Warner said that without an effective Iraqi government that has leaders with "strong backbones, not subject to secular pulls," it was unclear whether U.S. troops would be able to return home even if Iraq's military and security forces are competent.

At the same hearing, after repeated questioning about stress on the National Guard and Reserve, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace told lawmakers that the nonactive duty forces will play a much smaller role over the next year in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060207/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq