Connecticut Post: State Democrats scoff at Bush plan

WASHINGTON — President Bush's upbeat assessment of the Iraq war and an announced plan to begin withdrawing some troops before Christmas drew a sharp rebuke from Connecticut Democrats in Congress who claim it is simply more of the same.

"Moving us in 10 months to where we were 10 months ago is not progress. It is the very definition of status quo," said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn. "Not only is the president not offering us anything new; he's insulting our intelligence."

Iraqi leaders have failed to take the necessary steps toward political reconciliation, and "staying the course" only serves to postpone that effort, said Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5. "The president's plan to keep the same number of troops on the ground as he had before the surge doesn't solve our fundamental problem in Iraq," he said.

Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4, however, said he supported Bush's assessment that enough progress has been made to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq to at least pre-surge levels.

"I would certainly recommend that we not stop there but continue to bring back more troops each and every month because Iraqis are getting more capable," he said.

Bush spoke Thursday evening from the Oval Office, outlining a "plan for success in Iraq" that would allow for about 5,700 American troops to return home by Christmas and as many as 30,000 by next July. "The more successful we are, the more American troops can return home. And in all we do, I will ensure that our commanders on the ground have the troops and flexibility they need to defeat the enemy," he said.

The address followed testimony that Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of multinational forces in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker gave to Congress earlier in the week.

Bush's strategy would reduce the number of American troops fighting in Iraq to about 130,000 by next July — a level about equal to the pre-surge number. He said it offers a bridge to those who desire American troops to come home and those who believe U.S. security depends on a stable Iraq.

"The way forward I have described tonight makes it possible, for the first time in years, for people who have been on opposite sides of this difficult debate to come together," Bush said.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, said Bush's announced reduction in troops is a "deceptive effort to assuage public opinion."

"This is more of the same, and sadly, more loss of American lives and rising costs, with no evidence of political change in Iraq," she said. "Redeploying troops over the course of nearly a year to pre-surge levels represents nothing new and is clearly far from the change of direction our country needs."

DeLauro said Bush is being forced to reduce troop levels next year because there are no replacements available without reducing time between active duty deployments.

"The public will see through this new effort to mislead the country, and I am confident it will lead to increased support in Congress for a change in course," she said.

Dodd said he plans to introduce an amendment to this year's defense budget blueprint that would set an enforceable deadline for completing the redeployment of troops from Iraq by April 30.

"None of our choices are easy, but they are clear," Dodd said. "We must choose the policy that is best for our nation, even in the face of extreme difficulty. Every additional day we 'stay the course' in Iraq, our nation is less safe and the people of Iraq get further away from coming together to fashion a political and diplomatic solution to their civil conflict."

Shays believes the Iraq military should be able to handle internal security of their country within 12 to 18 months, although American forces would likely be needed along the borders to discourage Iran, Syria or Turkey from going into Iraq.

Shays also dismissed criticism that the Iraqi government is dysfunctional, suggesting as Bush did that progress is being made from the bottom up on several key benchmarks — including reconciliation and oil revenue sharing.

Shays said he would still support legislation to require President Bush to set a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq, but opposes calls for a quick redeployment of troops, fearing that it would leave Iraq in the hands of Iran.

"I find it particularly irresponsible for us to leave precipitously," he said. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2, said that drawing down troops to pre-surge levels is not progress. "Americans understand what the president does not — that this conflict will only come to a conclusion through a change in policy, a diplomatic surge in the region and a real draw down of American troops. Instead, the president proposes more of the same and a war without end," he said.

Courtney said the General Accountability Office's independent analysis of progress in Iraq found that its government had failed to meet 15 of 18 benchmarks for success. "After four long years in Iraq, our troops should not be used to prop up a failed policy that is not moving Iraq toward stability," he said.

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman was not available for comment Thursday because he was observing the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is a two-day holiday that began at sundown on Wednesday.

Connecticut Post, Peter Urban, 9/13/07