Democrats plot Petraeus counter-attack

WASHINGTON – US Democratic lawmakers dismissed assurances by US General David Petraeus that the US military surge in Iraq is working ahead of a new Congress confrontation yesterday.

A day after parrying attacks on President George W Bush’s war policy in the House of Representatives, the war commander faced two potentially testy dates with powerful US Senate committees. In one of the most eagerly awaited congressional hearings in years, Petraeus and US ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker on Monday battled interruptions by anti-war protestors to rejected claims that Bush’s war plan has failed.”As a bottom line up front, the military objectives of the surge are in large measure being met,” Petraeus, in green dress uniform bearing a chestful of medal ribbons, told lawmakers.Democrats argued that the surge of 28 500 US troops had failed in its prime goal of driving political reconciliation in Iraq.But the general warned ‘a premature drawdown of our forces would likely have devastating consequences’.He said gradual troop withdrawals were feasible and signalled that the United States would reduce troops near to pre-surge levels by the middle of next year.The Iraqi government welcomed the general’s testimony, saying it expects US forces to cut back on combat duties in the near term.But Iraq’s National Security Advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie cautioned in Baghdad against a quick US withdrawal, saying Iraq needed coalition soldiers until its own security forces are self-reliant.Petraeus’ appearance before the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees opened a pivotal week for US Iraq policy after a four-year war which has left more than 3 700 US troops and tens of thousands of civilians dead.The hearings yesterday will be lent extra spice by the expected presence of 2008 White House hopefuls including Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama who want to end the war, and outspoken Republican surge advocate John McCain.They also take place on the politically sensitive sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.Bush sees Iraq as the central front of the ‘war on terror’ sparked by the devastating strikes, but Democrats view it as a diversion from the real fight against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.Many leading Democrats have demanded at least a reduction in the US military presence.A marine expeditionary unit of about 2 000 troops is to leave Iraq this month and not be replaced, and an army combat brigade of about 4 000 troops will redeploy in December.The impact of reductions would be to effectively end the surge in 10 months.Before the surge debuted in February, around 130 000 US troops were in Iraq.Military officials had previously acknowledged that continuing the surge after mid-2008 would be difficult because of the lack of available forces to keep troop levels so high.Nampa-AFPIn one of the most eagerly awaited congressional hearings in years, Petraeus and US ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker on Monday battled interruptions by anti-war protestors to rejected claims that Bush’s war plan has failed.”As a bottom line up front, the military objectives of the surge are in large measure being met,” Petraeus, in green dress uniform bearing a chestful of medal ribbons, told lawmakers.Democrats argued that the surge of 28 500 US troops had failed in its prime goal of driving political reconciliation in Iraq.But the general warned ‘a premature drawdown of our forces would likely have devastating consequences’.He said gradual troop withdrawals were feasible and signalled that the United States would reduce troops near to pre-surge levels by the middle of next year.The Iraqi government welcomed the general’s testimony, saying it expects US forces to cut back on combat duties in the near term.But Iraq’s National Security Advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie cautioned in Baghdad against a quick US withdrawal, saying Iraq needed coalition soldiers until its own security forces are self-reliant.Petraeus’ appearance before the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees opened a pivotal week for US Iraq policy after a four-year war which has left more than 3 700 US troops and tens of thousands of civilians dead.The hearings yesterday will be lent extra spice by the expected presence of 2008 White House hopefuls including Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama who want to end the war, and outspoken Republican surge advocate John McCain.They also take place on the politically sensitive sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.Bush sees Iraq as the central front of the ‘war on terror’ sparked by the devastating strikes, but Democrats view it as a diversion from the real fight against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.Many leading Democrats have demanded at least a reduction in the US military presence.A marine expeditionary unit of about 2 000 troops is to leave Iraq this month and not be replaced, and an army combat brigade of about 4 000 troops will redeploy in December.The impact of reductions would be to effectively end the surge in 10 months.Before the surge debuted in February, around 130 000 US troops were in Iraq.Military officials had previously acknowledged that continuing the surge after mid-2008 would be difficult because of the lack of available forces to keep troop levels so high.Nampa-AFP