Dems to question Abizaid on violence in Iraq and what it means for the 152,000 U.S. troops there

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Wednesday, November 15, 2006; Page A06

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

By Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/14/AR2006111401246_pf.html

{snip}

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.

Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.), poised to take over as Armed Services Committee chairman, said that Iraq is headed into an abyss of civil war and that only by beginning a troop pullout in four to six months can Washington exert the necessary pressure on Iraqi leaders to forge political solutions to the country's violence.

What Iraqis "need to hear, and what the American people need to hear, is that we are darned impatient," Levin said at a news conference Monday, recounting a conversation with President Bush.

Levin said he believes a majority of the Senate would now back a bipartisan resolution he initiated on a phased pullout.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), a committee member who joined with 40 other senators in backing the resolution six months ago, said in an interview: "The best approach is to clearly state the policy to begin redeployment The critical problems . . . are political in nature," not military, he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/14/AR2006111401246_pf.html

[Patsy Stone]

1. Great news!

I hope it's in a real room this time and that he's sworn in.