US general says Iraq insurgents very active
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-24 08:00

The Iraqi insurgency is as active as six months ago and more foreign fighters are flowing in all the time, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East said Thursday, despite Vice President Dick Cheney's insistence that the insurgency was "in its last throes."

Gen. John Abizaid, testifying at a contentious Senate hearing alongside Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, gave his view of the war in response to Democratic and Republican lawmakers who expressed concern about progress in Iraq and support at home.

US General John Abizaid testifies on the progress of Iraqi security forces on Capitol Hill, Thursday, June 23, 2005, before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington. [AP]

"People are beginning to question, and I don't think it's a blip on the radar screen," said Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Added Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.: "I fear that American public opinion is tipping away from this effort."

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy told Rumsfeld he should quit. Rumsfeld said he'd offered his resignation to President Bush twice, and the president had said no.

Abizaid, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, acknowledged that U.S. troops, too, were becoming aware of the drop in the public's confidence.

"When my soldiers say to me and ask me the question whether or not they've got support from the American people or not, that worries me. And they're starting to do that," he said.

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, right, testifies on the progress of Iraqi security forces on Capitol Hill Thursday, June 23, 2005, before the House Armed Services Committee. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers is at left. [AP]

The worries were on full display during back-to-back House and Senate Armed Services committee panels in which lawmakers vigorously questioned Rumsfeld and other top military officials.

The Senate session was especially contentious, with Kennedy renewing his call for Rumsfeld to step down because of repeated "gross errors and mistakes" in the Iraq campaign.

"In baseball, it's three strikes, you're out. What is it for the secretary of defense?" Kennedy asked Rumsfeld. "Isn't it time for you to resign?"

"That's quite a statement," Rumsfeld said. He added that Bush had rejected his resignation offers and "that's his call."

The hearings were held on the eve of a White House meeting between Bush and Iraq's Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari — and the week before the one-year anniversary of the U.S.-led coalition handing government control back to Iraqis.

Several Republicans in both the Senate and House expressed concern about the insurgency and skepticism about how the U.S. was conducting the war. U.S. deaths have surpassed 1,700 since the war began in March 2003, and an Associated Press-Ipsos poll this month found just 41 percent of adults supported Bush's handling of the war — the lowest that figure has been.

Sen. John McCain noted "some signs of progress that should be encouraging." But he said: "I also must tell you, I'm very worried." He cited stress on the Guard and Reserve, recruiting shortfalls and continuing casualties.

Sen. Jack Reed said it was obvious why public opinion polls were down. "We have a credibility gap here with the American people," he said.

And Sen. Robert Byrd, accused Rumsfeld of responding to questions with "smart answers" and "a sneer" every time he testifies about the war.

"The American people haven't heard enough of the truth," Byrd told Rumsfeld, adding that he should "get off his high horse."

Democrats and even some Republicans accused the administration of being overly optimistic, citing an observation by Cheney last month that the insurgency was in its "last throes."

Rumsfeld told the Senate panel that it was false to suggest that "people, me or others, are painting a rosy picture."

Abizaid told lawmakers that the overall strength of the insurgency was "about the same" as six months ago. He also said: "I believe there are more foreign fighters coming into Iraq than there were six months ago."

"We see good progress in both Iraq and Afghanistan ... but we are realistic. And we know that great change is often accompanied with violence," Abizaid said.

Told by Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, the Senate committee's senior Democrat, that his assessment directly contradicted Cheney, Abizaid said: "I gave you my opinion."

Cheney, asked about his comment on CNN, said he wouldn't change it "but I'd be happy to explain what I meant by that."

"I think there will be a lot of violence, a lot of bloodshed, because I think the terrorists will do everything they can to try to dispute that process (of training security forces)," Cheney said. "But I think it is well under way. I think it's going to be accomplished — that we will, in fact, succeed in getting a democracy established in Iraq, and I think when we do, that will be the end of the insurgency."

In the House hearing Thursday, Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton asked, "Why aren't the number and the lethality of the attacks decreasing?" He said he feared one of two things would happen with the prolonged war: "We're going to lose the American people or we're going to break the Army."

Rumsfeld projected confidence that public support would bounce back, saying Americans have "a good center of gravity."

Levin said the Bush administration should tell the Iraqis that if they do not meet their deadline for drafting a constitution — Aug. 15, with a possible six-month extension — the United States would consider setting a timetable for troop withdrawals.

Rumsfeld said such a timetable would be a bad mistake.

The administration contends that Iraqis must be able to defend their own country against a lethal insurgency before a timeline for bringing home troops can be considered.

Said Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: "Leaving before the task is complete would be catastrophic."

Close

Space shuttle Discovery launch delayed Blair plans measures to uproot extremism Pakistan train crash carnage kills 128

Today's Top News     Top World News
Taiwan's KMT Party to elect new leader Saturday         'No trouble brewing,' beer industry insists         Critics see security threat in Unocal bid         DPRK: Nuke-free peninsula our goal         Workplace death toll set to soar in China         No foreign controlling stakes in steel firms	Judge: Saddam trial could begin next month       DPRK: Nuke-free peninsula our goal       Pakistan train crash carnage kills 128       NASA delays shuttle launch till Saturday       Annan advocates UN Council expansion now       Israel seals off Gaza Strip settlements