WP: U.S. Commander in Iraq to Face Democrats Eager for Troop Cuts

[DeepModem Mom]

U.S. Commander in Iraq to Face Democrats Eager for Troop Cuts
By Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 15, 2006; Page A06


Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.), about to take over as Armed Services chairman, wants a troop pullout to begin within months. (By Kevin Clark -- The Washington Post)

Senate Democrats impatient to start withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq will inject a new political dynamic into the debate over the war beginning today as they question the military's top Middle East commander for the first time since their party swept into control of Congress this month.

Army Gen. John P. Abizaid, head of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, will face questions on the violence in Iraq and what it means for the roughly 145,000 U.S. troops there during scheduled testimony today before the Senate Armed Services Committee, senators from both parties said.

Senior Democrats and Republicans on the committee are deeply divided over basic issues such as troop levels and strategy and whether Iraq is already in a state of civil war. Still, they are united by a concern for American forces. Committee Chairman John W. Warner (R-Va.), for example, said he will quiz Abizaid on the risks that U.S. troops could face if embedded with Iraqi units under an Iraqi chain of command.

"We've got to be very careful we are not putting at risk life and limb of American forces by putting them with Iraqis," he said in an interview. "What kind of orders will the Iraqi forces receive?" he asked, voicing concern over sectarian influences within the Iraqi military.

Democrats have made it clear that they intend to bolster the committee's oversight role, and an influx of new members, including Democrat James Webb of Virginia, is expected to further invigorate debate. Webb, a former active-duty Marine and one of only a handful of members of Congress with offspring serving in Iraq, secured a seat on the committee yesterday, according to his spokeswoman, Kristian Denny Todd....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/14/AR2006111401246.html

[Eugene]

1. AP: U.S. Commander Warns Against Iraq Cutoff

U.S. Commander Warns Against Iraq Cutoff


Wednesday November 15, 2006 6:16 PM

AP Photo DCDC101

By ANNE PLUMMER FLAHERTY

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The top U.S. commander in the Middle East warned Congress Wednesday
against setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, saying it would
impede commanders in managing U.S. and Iraqi forces.

The assertion by Gen. John Abizaid seemed to put him at odds with some Democrats pressing
the Bush administration to begin pulling out of Iraq.

Abizaid spoke as the Senate Armed Services Committee began re-examining U.S. policy in the
wake of last week's Democratic election victory, which gave them control of Congress
starting next year.

In arguing against a timetable for troop withdrawals, Abizaid told the committee that he
and other U.S. commanders need flexibility in managing U.S. forces and determining how and
when to pass on responsibility to Iraqi forces.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6216629,00.html