Webb on the ISG report

[ProSense]

Webb: Report on Iraq a huge step forward

He welcomes panel's emphasis on overtures to Iran, Syria for help

BY JEFF E. SCHAPIRO
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Dec 8, 2006

U.S. Sen.-elect Jim Webb, D-Va., who ran on his opposition to the Iraq war, says recommendations by a commission for ending the crisis are an enormous step toward a solution.

Snip...

"The report is an enormous step forward in our nation's search for a workable solution to the strategic blunder of having invaded and occupied Iraq in the first place," Webb said.

"At the same time, it is Solomonesque in its findings, strong in its recommendations for regional dialogue, but less so in its proposal for bringing an end to the turmoil inside Iraq itself."

Snip...

"I have now had an opportunity to review the report of the Iraq Study Group," said Webb, adding that he welcomed the "bipartisan manner in which the group approached this deeply divisive foreign policy issue."

On the recommendation that U.S. forces shift from a combat role to training Iraq's army, Webb said: "It is unclear to me whether the problems of the current Iraqi military stem from lack of training or from a lack of motivation based on the frail nature of the national government that it is designed to support."

He continued, "There are many unresolved, little-discussed issues on this point that I look forward to examining in the coming months."

[Clarkie1]

1. I love this guy. nt

[ProSense]

2. Me too!

He echoed Kerry's comments about training and ending the war almost exactly!

December 6, 2006
Transcript: John Kerry on "Scarborough Country"

MSNBC

SCARBOROUGH: Earlier, I asked Massachusetts senator and former presidential candidate John Kerry about the report and whether or not this is still a White House in denial.

KERRY: Well, listen, you know what I think we ought to do today is take this study group and see if we can find some common ground with the president. If he says it's not far from his policy, then let's talk about how we're going to really implement it.

But this study group does not do as much of the job as I think we still need to get done. You know, looking forward to 2008 is not going to satisfy a lot of Americans. Additional training is not going to resolve the problem of Iraq. As I said, it's a problem of motivation. If the army itself is predominantly Shi'a, and those Shi'a are members of a militia and they are controlled by people who still have a different interest from the federal government, you've got a problem.

So this fundamental, I think, divide, is over what are we trying to now achieve diplomatically and politically, and that's where I think the president may be either -- you know, either in denial or not yet ready to admit that he's got to move in a new direction. But I hope ultimately, he will.

SCARBOROUGH: Your testimony in 1971, the end of that testimony now seems prescient and applicable to Iraq, that, you know, no man should be the last man to die in Iraq because of a failed policy.

KERRY: I believe that.

SCARBOROUGH: Do you sort of feel reverberations of 1971 all over again in this report?

KERRY: I feel reverberations in the sense, Joe, that the policy is a failed policy which was based on a lot of misleading and even in some cases untruths. And I think that a lot of the American people are very upset about that. But we care about those service people. I mean, they are extraordinary. They deserve our support. And the best way to support them is to get the policy right now. And I think that's the foremost thing. I think the study group has really moved the debate, and that's important for all of us as Americans because we need to get this policy right.

[Clarkie1]

6. I'm so glad he won. I feel like I had at least a small part in it.

I donated to IAVA to help run the ads with Clark in them there, and when I donated to the DSCC I told them I wanted it to go towards Webb's race (I think it goes into a general fund anyway, I understand they always have to make strategic decsions).

I really feel Webb overcame a lot of typical right-wing chickenhawk swiftboating smears, and was really pleased with his victory. I'm also proud of Clark that he was one of the first major Dems to support him back in the primary.

[MadMaddie]

4. I do too....he doesn't bullshit and he gets to the point....

this is what our country and our soldiers need.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

3. Well one can forget about bi-partisanship in dealing with this mess

Republicans by nature do not compromise. They see the world in a strict win-loose framework so to them to compromise is to loose. It also should be continually stressed in the dialog on Iraq that we had no business going there in the first place.

[MadMaddie]

5. I see the Republicans throwing up whatever roadblocks they

can to prevent the Dems from ending the war...

[Freedom_from_Chains]

8. I see them throwing a temper tantrum like a six year old.

:hi:

[Clarkie1]

11. I don't believe that.

"Republicans by their nature do not compromise"

True, Republicans as a group have not compromised up to this point, but that does not mean they won't.

Those kinds of statements don't help move the country forward. There are many diverse opinion on Iraq. Personally, I think Democrats would do well to unite behind the recommendations of the ISG report, and keep asking important questions the report raises, as Webb is doing.

Shutting down discussion by simply saying "Republicans by their nature do not compromise" is as foolhardy as not talking with Iran and Syria, don't you think?

[Freedom_from_Chains]

13. Well, having been involved with Republican politics for over 20 years

All I can say is, watch and learn.

[jefferson_dem]

7. OMG! I'm automatically loving any politico who uses "Solomonesque" in proper context!

n/t

[lapfog_1]

14. Ding! Ding! Ding!

That was my first thought. The ultimate single word description.

Let's cut the baby in half shall we!

[spanone]

9. It's astounding how little actual rational thought process goes on in the Govt. halls. Thanks Sen.

[blm]

10. Good comments from Webb.

.

[opihimoimoi]

12. Webb is the disinfectant we were looking for...he and others will clean the place of the PUB SCUM

6 years worth....