Bush nominee: Pushing Iraq may not work

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Bush nominee: Pushing Iraq may not work

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer
25 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The three-star general picked by President Bush
to become his personal war adviser suggested on Thursday that
pressuring the Iraqis to take on more responsibility may not work.

"I have reservations about just how much leverage we can apply in
a system that's not very capable right now," Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute
said during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed
Services Committee.

Lute also said early results of the U.S. troop buildup in Iraq were
mixed and Iraqi participation has been uneven.

"I think we're in the early days and time will tell," he said.

-snip-

Committee members signaled their support for Lute's nomination,
but questioned his assessment that applying more leverage might
not work. They also questioned whether the new job would make
a difference in Iraq.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070607/ap_on_go_co/war_adviser

[maddezmom]

1. Bush Pick for War Adviser Says U.S. Should Consider Withdrawal

Bush Pick for War Adviser Says U.S. Should Consider Withdrawal

By Tony Capaccio and Jeff Bliss

June 7 (Bloomberg) -- Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, a skeptic of the troop increase in Iraq and President George W. Bush's choice to oversee the war, said withdrawing troops may pressure the Iraqi government to make needed changes.

Under questioning from Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, Lute said the Michigan Democrat may be correct in his long-held assertion that the Iraqi government will only work to end sectarian strife if it has to.

A withdrawal ``ought to be considered,'' Lute, 54, said during the committee's hearing in Washington on his nomination as a coordinator of war operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

more:http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aBlzFtNRuiZg&refer=home

[cliss]

2. Well, I think it's time

to get rid of Lieutenant General Lute.

He ain't sayin what the Administration wants to hear.

[maddezmom]

3. US senators dubious about Bush's new war czar post

WASHINGTON, June 7 (Reuters) - U.S. senators expressed deep skepticism on Thursday at President Bush's nomination of a "war czar" for Iraq and Afghanistan, saying it muddled the White House chain of command but likely signaled no strategy change.

"I'm afraid that your position will be someone who's there to take the blame," Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Jack Reed told Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Bush nominated Lute in May to oversee policy and execute strategy for Iraq and Afghanistan, reporting directly to the president. His appointment comes amid an ongoing struggle between the White House and Congress over the unpopular Iraq war.

But with Lute known to have been a skeptic about Bush's current increase in the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, his views about the war appeared to worry Democratic senators less on Thursday than whether he would have enough authority in a White House floundering over the direction of the conflict.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N07223997.htm