Top Republican says bring troops home
Top Republican says bring troops home
By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: August 23 2007 18:16 | Last updated: August 24 2007 01:37
John Warner, the most influential Republican senator on military affairs, on Thursday called on President George W. Bush to bring some troops home from Iraq by Christmas to send a “sharp and clear message” to the Iraqi government.
“The Iraqi government under the leadership of prime minister [Nouri al-] Maliki have let our troops down,” he said.
Mr Warner, who has just returned from an Iraq visit, spoke hours after the Director of National Intelligence released the latest National Intelligence Estimate on the country, which concluded that the Baghdad government would continue to “struggle” to achieve political reconciliation.
He said Mr Bush should send a clear message that the US was serious about wanting the Iraqi government to take more responsibility for the future of the country. “I think no clearer form of [message] than if the president were to announce on [September] the 15th that, in consultation with our senior military commanders, he’s decided to initiate the first step in a withdrawal of our forces,” said Mr Warner.
“I say to the president, respectfully, pick whatever number you wish...5,000 could begin to redeploy and be home to their families and loved ones no later than Christmas of this year.”
When Mr Warner last year said the situation in Iraq was “going sideways”, it spurred other Republicans to distance themselves from White House policy.
“If George W. Bush has lost John Warner, then he is in deep, deep trouble,” said Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia. “It is [also] a very important moment for the Republicans.”
Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman, said the administration would “wait until Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus return from Baghdad and make their report”.
Mr Warner said the NIE had confirmed his view that the Iraqi government was not succeeding in achieving the political reconciliation considered crucial for the long-term stability of Iraq.
The NIE, which represents the views of the whole US intelligence community, said “levels of insurgency and sectarian violence will remain high and the Iraqi government will continue to struggle to achieve national-level political reconciliation and improved governance”.
The NIE concluded that the US surge had helped “check for now” the steep escalation in violence that gripped Iraq last year.
The report comes as US politicians grow impatient with the Iraq government.
Mr Bush showed his frustration this week when he refused to endorse Mr Maliki. Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat, this week called for the dismissal of Mr Maliki.
The NIE concluded that “political and security trajectories” in Iraq continue to be driven by, among other factors, Shia insecurity, widespread Sunni unwillingness to accept a diminished political status, factional rivalries and al-Qaeda actions.
By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: August 23 2007 18:16 | Last updated: August 24 2007 01:37
John Warner, the most influential Republican senator on military affairs, on Thursday called on President George W. Bush to bring some troops home from Iraq by Christmas to send a “sharp and clear message” to the Iraqi government.
“The Iraqi government under the leadership of prime minister [Nouri al-] Maliki have let our troops down,” he said.
Mr Warner, who has just returned from an Iraq visit, spoke hours after the Director of National Intelligence released the latest National Intelligence Estimate on the country, which concluded that the Baghdad government would continue to “struggle” to achieve political reconciliation.
He said Mr Bush should send a clear message that the US was serious about wanting the Iraqi government to take more responsibility for the future of the country. “I think no clearer form of [message] than if the president were to announce on [September] the 15th that, in consultation with our senior military commanders, he’s decided to initiate the first step in a withdrawal of our forces,” said Mr Warner.
“I say to the president, respectfully, pick whatever number you wish...5,000 could begin to redeploy and be home to their families and loved ones no later than Christmas of this year.”
When Mr Warner last year said the situation in Iraq was “going sideways”, it spurred other Republicans to distance themselves from White House policy.
“If George W. Bush has lost John Warner, then he is in deep, deep trouble,” said Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia. “It is [also] a very important moment for the Republicans.”
Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman, said the administration would “wait until Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus return from Baghdad and make their report”.
Mr Warner said the NIE had confirmed his view that the Iraqi government was not succeeding in achieving the political reconciliation considered crucial for the long-term stability of Iraq.
The NIE, which represents the views of the whole US intelligence community, said “levels of insurgency and sectarian violence will remain high and the Iraqi government will continue to struggle to achieve national-level political reconciliation and improved governance”.
The NIE concluded that the US surge had helped “check for now” the steep escalation in violence that gripped Iraq last year.
The report comes as US politicians grow impatient with the Iraq government.
Mr Bush showed his frustration this week when he refused to endorse Mr Maliki. Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat, this week called for the dismissal of Mr Maliki.
The NIE concluded that “political and security trajectories” in Iraq continue to be driven by, among other factors, Shia insecurity, widespread Sunni unwillingness to accept a diminished political status, factional rivalries and al-Qaeda actions.
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