Skelton rejects quick exit from Iraq, Stance reflects Democrats’ split

[ECH1969]

WASHINGTON –– Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, a leading figure on U.S. defense policy, Wednesday rejected calls by some Democratic Party leaders for a quick withdrawal from Iraq.

The United States has no choice but to succeed in Iraq, said the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, which will require a “more responsible” plan than a pullout based on any kind of time frame, which he called “counterproductive.”

“If we should pull out prematurely or allow there to be an unsuccessful conclusion, Iraq could become a snake pit for terrorists,” Skelton told reporters. “Further than that, it would also lead to the possibility of nearby countries being made unstable …You do not even wish to consider not having success in Iraq.”

Asked what he thought of Dean’s comments, Skelton responded: “Not much.”

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/13353836.htm

[xchrom]

1. the door is over there, dude.

ike is pickled -- like anybody is that thinks we have greater staying power than the insurgents.

[leftchick]

2. Skelton is an asshat

I wonder how much he is making off of this war?

[truthisfreedom]

3. nonsense. skelton is a short-sighted idiot.

getting out of Iraq as quickly as possible is the ONLY solution to reducing the number of terrorists being generated by our presence there.

[ChrisK]

4. So we can train American troops in a matter of months but not Iraq's?

It takes a handful of weeks in different areas of training (hand-to-hand combat,weapons training, live ordinance and so forth) that add-up to a few short months to train Americans to fight and defend this country here and abroad but for some reason Iraq's, who have been getting training for a few years now, can't take control of there country...with troops we and other nations have trained?

I understand not wanting to leave right away, Mr Murtha's plan was more of a phasing out of our troops over time, but to stand here and to tell us that we need to "stay the course" Mr Skelton is not dealing with the obvious...it will not get any better there till we leave because the mass amount of attacks on our troops daily or from home-grown insurgences...Citizens of Iraq who want us to leave.

This "snake pit for terrorists" he speaks off is due to us being there in the first place, under Saddam there was not terrorist in his country till we invaded..He may have been a tyrant in my opinion but I have never heard of him dealing with a terrorist problem in his on country.

No one is saying "cut and run" Mr Skelton, whats being asked is that we set a time-table and tell the Iraq's the time is coming to stand up and take over your own country so we can get the hell out of there...We're sure of the success of this operation and the new Iraqi government but we're not sure if there ready to take control of there own country?...what have we been doing there for the past two and a half years?

[Fovea]

5. Welcome to the Republican party, Ike

The Donkey tent just got too small for you.
You can't even tell us what an achievable sucess in Iraq might look like, so we will be there forever looking for it.

You need to join the rest of the pro-occupation Dems in a battan-like march across the aisle. All of you, go now, and let us rebuild the party without your dubious help.

Go, and join the party of Bush, Wolfowitz, and Rumsfeld.

[MadisonProgressive]

6. I guess it's time to lay down and die

[catmandu57]

7. Skelton is a dino

The area of the state he represents leans heavily repuke, but, ike shouldn't let the door hit him on the way out.