Senators Urge Bush to Rethink Iraq Policy

[Nicholas_J]

By WILLIAM C. MANN

Associated Press Writer



September 19, 2004, 8:48 PM CDT


WASHINGTON -- Senators from both parties urged the Bush administration on Sunday to make a realistic assessment of the situation in Iraq and adjust its policies aimed at pacifying the country. But Bush readied a firm defense of his Iraq policy -- and a sharp new attack on rival John Kerry's stance -- for a speech Monday.

"The fact is a crisp, sharp analysis of our policies is required. We didn't do that in Vietnam, and we saw 11 years of casualties mount to the point where we finally lost," said Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Vietnam War veteran who is co-chairman of President Bush's re-election committee in Nebraska.

"We can't lose this. It is too important," Hagel, R-Neb., said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

A major problem, said leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was incompetence by the administration in reconstructing the country's shattered infrastructure.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/wireless/avantgo/ats-ap_top12sep19.story

[Jade Fox]

1. Rethink? When did he think? n/t

[OneBlueSky]

2. the bottom line of the BushCo policy on Iraq . . .

is that they have always intended to make Iraq a permanent base of US operations in the region, and nothing has changed that intention . . . that's why we're building four or five large, permanent bases and the world's largest embassy in Iraq . . . Cheney has even stated that we'll probably be there for at least thirteen years . . . they have no intention of leaving, ever, no matter how many lives (American and Iraqi) and dollars it may cost . . . and they should be called on it, preferably during the debate on foreign policy . . .

[XanaDUer]

3. Kick

kick.

[seabeyond]

4. saw hagel this morning being asked if too harsh and

should he be talking like that. he said, i represent the people in district, the nation, i wouldnt be doing my job if i kept my mouth shut. i am an u.s. senator not a potted plant to do white house cheerleading. lol lol

not exact, close. didnt use cheerleader, but like that. used he isnt a potted plant

[cthrumatrix]

5. well the media is sure keeping thier truth stories shut....