Powell, Democratic leaders reject boosting Iraq troop levels

[cal04]

(snip)
Speaking on CBS television's "Face the Nation" program, Powell said he had not seen anything that would justify a reported White House plan to increase US forces in Iraq by 20,000 or more, from the current 140,000.

"I am not persuaded that another surge of troops into Baghdad for the purposes of suppressing this communitarian violence, this civil war, will work. ... If I were still chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, my first question to whoever is proposing it (would be), what mission is it these troops are to accomplish?"

Meanwhile, top Democratic Senators Harry Reid and Ted Kennedy also rejected anything more than a short-term "surge" in the US force size, saying US President George W. Bush needs a new strategy for bringing the troops home from Iraq.

(snip)
"We have to understand there is absolute chaos that is taking place there. This country is falling apart ... The number one issue is the protection of American troops and not let them be in a sinkhole."(Kennedy)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061217/pl_afp/usiraqmilitary_061217180817

[still_one]

1. Funny that much of the media is trying to distort Reids position on this

Point blank Reid wants our troops OUT OF IRAQ, and believes it cannot and will not be won militarily, only politically, and that is for the Iraqiis to decide

As an aside, SHAME ON POWELL, when he had a chance to STOP THIS MADNESS, he was quite silent