I just received this from Sen. Webb's office, and thought it was worth passing along to all of you. Just a couple of points: 1) thank God we elected Jim Webb to the U.S. Senate; and 2) can you imagine George Allen ever issuing a thoughtful, coherent, independent analysis of the Iraq situation like Webb has just done? Right, I didn't think so.
January 10, 2007Where Do We Go From Here?
Statement of Senator Webb to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
The following is the opening statement of Senator Jim Webb before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing, GÇ£A Current Assessment of Iraq and the RegionGÇ¥:
The series of hearings that we begin today provide a critical opportunity to forge a new strategic direction for Iraq and the entire regionGÇöone that is long overdue and one I hope all Americans will eventually be able to rally behind. I would like to express my appreciation to our panelGÇÖs witnesses for their appearance today. I look forward to hearing their assessments, especially as they relate to the regional implications of the situation in Iraq today.
We went to war in Iraq recklessly; we must move forward responsibly. The warGÇÖs costs to our nation have been staggering. These costs encompass what we hold to be most preciousGÇöthe blood of our citizens. They also extend to the many thousands more Iraqi people killed and wounded as their country slides into the chaos of sectarian violence and civil war. We have incurred extraordinary financial costsGÇöexpenses totaling more than $380 billion and now estimated at $8 billion a month.
The war also has diverted our nationGÇÖs focus fighting international terrorism and deflected our attention to the many additional threats to our national security abroad and national greatness at homeGÇöcosts difficult to measure, perhaps, but very real all the same.
The Iraqi government and the Iraqi people must understand that the United States does not intend to maintain its current presence in their country for the long term. They must make the difficult but essential decisions to end todayGÇÖs sectarian violence and to provide for their own security. The American people are not alone in seeking that day; indeed, the overwhelming majority of Iraqi citizens also does not want our forces present in their country for any longer than is absolutely necessary.The key question of the moment is how long the United States should be expected to keep our forces in Iraq as its government seeks to assume these burdens? How and when do we begin to draw down our combat presence and conclude our mission in a way that does not leave even greater chaos behind? What is the administrationGÇÖs strategic vision and, as it relates to our presence in Iraq, its eventual end point?
The answers to these questions are not to be found in Iraq alone. Achieving our goals in this war requires a coherent strategy encompassing the entire region. The National Strategy for Victory in Iraq, published by the National Security Council in November 2005, principally emphasized how the United States would help the Iraqi people defeat terrorists and build an inclusive democratic state. This strategy identified an initiative to increase international support for Iraq. It did not, however, affirm the need for an overarching diplomatic solution that is now, more than ever, an imperative if we are to end the war.
I have said for many months that the United States does not require a military solution to end the war in Iraq. We must seek a diplomatic solution immediatelyGÇöone that engages all nations in the region with historic and cultural ties to Iraq. Because they are part of todayGÇÖs problem, Syria and Iran also must be party to tomorrowGÇÖs solution. This overarching diplomatic solution, one supportive of a coherent strategy, will lead to four outcomes. First, it will enable us to withdraw our combat troops from Iraq over time. Second, it will lead to progressively greater regional stability. Third, it will allow us to fight international terrorism more effectively. Lastly, it will enable us to address our broad strategic interests around the world with renewed vigor.
During an earlier era in our nationGÇÖs history, we were faced with an unpopular war that had gone on too long. The then-recently retired General Dwight David Eisenhower spoke out against the conduct of the Korean War in the summer of 1952. GÇ£Where do we go from here,GÇ¥ he asked; GÇ£when comes the end?GÇ¥
Today, the members of this committeeGÇöindeed all AmericansGÇöawait answers to these same questions: Where do we go from here? When comes the end?
The nation will be watching and listening carefully to hear if we receive answers to those last two questions from President Bush, when he lays out his "new course" Iraq strategy tonight at 9 PM EST. My advice? Don't hold your breath.
Bush has failed at every opportunity in Iraq - to stabilize the newly freed state, to disarm the insurgency, to control ethnic violence, to institute a representative government, to blunt the coming regional war. Failed. Utterly.
A strategy will be constructed from the findings and testimony before the Foreign Affairs committee, and the Armed Services Committee, and a new course will be charted by the Democrats. Then when Congress decides to respond to the will of the people, the 88% of Americans that believe that Bush has no viable plan for Iraq...Jim Webb will be there to offer up a true plan for Iraq. One that has an honest vision of the best possible outcome. The challenge will be reaching that outcome with George Bush as President.
The time is growing near when Republicans will have to face the question: Are you an American first, or are you a Republican first. George Bush is a desperate man, tragically arrogant and confident. Does the Republican Party want to share his failure in Iraq or will they break ranks and look for a better way?
It's past time being politcally correct when you have a maniac like this leading the country. No matter what he suggests tonight, IT WON'T WORK. And I've heard things like he want's to past this Iraqmire on to the next president...what kind of chicken shit move is that? And if he tries to blame any of this on Democrats, and I wouldn't put this past him, it won't work.