Senators challenge Bush on Iraq (Aljazeera Hails McCain & Hagel)

Aljazeera ^ | June 20, 2005

[PJ-Comix]

Two prominent US Republican senators have delivered stinging rebukes to President George Bush over his handling of Iraq.

Bush needs to tell Americans that the nation faces "a long, hard slog" in Iraq, Senator John McCain, an Arizona Republican, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

On the same day, Senator Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican, said the White House is "disconnected from reality" in its optimism over the war.

McCain, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: "Too often we've been told and the American people have been told that we're at a turning point.

"What the American people should have been told and should be told ... [is that] it's long; it's hard; it's tough. It's going to be at least a couple more years."

Falling support

Hagel, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee was quoted by US News and World Report as saying the administration's Iraq policy is failing.

"Things aren't getting better; they're getting worse. The White House is completely disconnected from reality. It's like they're just making it up as they go along. The reality is that we're losing in Iraq."

"Things aren't getting better; they're getting worse. The White House is completely disconnected from reality. It's like they're just making it up as they go along. The reality is that we're losing in Iraq"

Senator Chuck Hagel

The two Senators' remarks came as the Bush administration makes a push to counter growing US public impatience with the Iraq war, and to resist demands by some lawmakers to set a date for the withdrawal of US forces.

US public polls show the Iraq war is losing support and hurting Bush's popularity.

While US Vice-President Dick Cheney has asserted that anti-US violence is in its "last throes," a bombing in Baghdad on Sunday that killed at least 23 people underscored the unabated bloodshed.

Baghdad bombing

Iraq's al-Qaida group claimed responsibility for the bombing and said US forces are doomed to failure.

Although there are some hopeful signs in Iraq, Cheney's characterisation is inaccurate, McCain said.

More than 1722 US soldiers have
been killed in Iraq

"I don't think Americans believe that we should cut and run out of Iraq by any stretch of the imagination," he said. "But I think they also would like to be told, in reality, what's going on."

Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said on "This Week" on ABC: "It's important the administration quit trying to pretend everything is going very well here. It's not."

CIA Director Porter Goss, however, said Cheney's assessment is not too far off-mark.

"I think they're not quite in the last throes, but I think they are very close to it," Goss told Time magazine. The emergence of an Iraqi government shows the fighters are "unwanted", he said.

'Making progress'

But Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Goss' statement does not comport with what he heard on a recent visit to Iraq.

"I wish Porter Goss would speak to his intelligence people on the ground," Biden said on CBS's "Face the Nation". "They didn't suggest at all it was near its last throes. Matter of fact it's getting worse, not better," Biden said.

Attacks such as the restaurant
bombing reflect a security crisis

Bush said Iraq presented a "vital test" for American security. "The mission isn't easy, and it will not be accomplished overnight," he said on Saturday in his weekly radio address.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said any withdrawal of US troops will depend on Iraq's ability to handle its own security, and said events are moving in the right direction.

"The security forces of Iraq are getting better. We're making progress, making steady progress. They're not yet ready but they are taking over every day more and more of what the coalition has done. And that will mean that there is less need for coalition forces," she told "Fox News Sunday".

[PJ-Comix]

Rush Limbaugh was talking about this article today. Sorry, McCain and Hagel. Since your attacks on Bush are held up for praise by Aljazeera, you can FORGET about having any chance of being nominated by the GOP in '08.

[My2Cents]

Of course, McCain supports sending MORE troops to Iraq, so Aljazeera must have lost something in translation.

[kezekiel]

I note that they prominently quoted Republican dissenters, and only quoted supporters from within the administration.

No bias here.

[My2Cents]

I guess McCain and Hagel are beyond shame that they don't bat an eye at their comments being used by the Islamist-leaning Arab propaganda network.

[Soul Seeker]

The only Party that will accept people that give aid and comfort to the terrorists and their networks is the Democratic party.

If McMaverick and McHagel with to run for the presidency, they will have to switch parties. Neither will win the GOP nomination.

[popdonnelly]

Does every politician in America have to take shots at Iraq? These two Senators are absolutely worthless. They have nothing constructive to say about the war in Iraq. I would welcome some constructive criticism, but these two are only positioning themselves for a political race. Isn't there anyone who puts the country's security ahead of politics?

[Echo Talon]

Ahh! another McHagel... foiled again...

[cwb]

I heard McVain on Hannity's show the other night. When Hannity asked him what he thought about the comments being made by his liberal brethren in the US Senate (specifically Durbin), he spouted about their right to free speech.

This is the same jackass that goes out of his way to criticize any Republican who would dare to make much more benign comments...or like those made by the SBVTs. The hypocrisy of him to attack the SBVT, while claiming free-speech rights for Durbin, disgusts me to no end. I can't stand this guy.

[Mister Baredog]

The hypocrisy of him to attack the SBVT, while claiming free-speech rights for Durbin, disgusts me to no end. I can't stand this guy.

He plays the role of "Media Darling" so well.

Hagel is AWOL, he hasn't been on any media since he said what he said. Hiding in shame no doubt, yea right. UGH

[wingnutx]

McCain was pretty positive about Bush's speech last night on FOX. They are cherry-picking his statements.

[maxwellp]

I think I heard Rush saying that Hagel was annoyed that AlJazeera quoted him. While I feel vaguely sorry for McCain because I don't think his head is screwed on right, Hagel deserves everything he gets.

[nairBResal]

McCain Resume

Manchurian Candidate.
AlJazeera Candidate.
.
.
.
.

[My2Cents]

If he was annoyed that AlJaz quoted him, he should never have made the statement. What a moron.

[daviscupper]

Excellent point. He should be confronted with your contradiction every time he opens his mouth to defend his liberal buddies in the Senate.

[daviscupper]

Exactly. These guys are teenagers. They know when they something that inspires, comforts and encourages our enemies that it will be immediately picked up by Al Jazeera and Al Qaeda forces. Claiming sorrow and misgivings after the fact is sheer hypocrisy.

[daviscupper]

"These guys are teenagers" should have read "These guys are not teenagers."

[My2Cents]

I thought "These guys are teenagers" seemed appropriate, metaphorically speaking.

At least the chances of Hagel getting the GOP nomination in '08 are somewhere between nil and ziltch.

[daviscupper]

Yes, "Upchuck II" is dooming his chances for the Presidency.

Come to think about it, you are right. They do act like "rebellious" teenagers. They need to be grounded.