Monday, June 27, 2005
WSJ: U.S. General Sees No Weakening of Iraq Insurgents
| June 24, 2005 | |||
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U.S. General Sees
No Weakening
Of Iraq Insurgents
Contradicts Cheney's Take;
Optimism on Political Gains
By GREG JAFFE
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
June 24, 2005; Page A11
The senior U.S. commander in the Middle East said the number of attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, the number of foreign fighters operating in the country, and the strength of the insurgency hadn't changed significantly in the past six months -- despite statements by Vice President Dick Cheney to the contrary.
"In terms of the overall strength of the insurgency, I'd say it was the same as it was. ... There's a lot of work to be done against the insurgency," said Gen. John Abizaid in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The remarks contrasted sharply with those of Mr. Cheney, who recently said that the Iraqi insurgency was in its "last throes." Gen. Abizaid's candor will give added ammunition to critics who say the Bush administration's failure to make an honest assessment of progress in Iraq has prevented it from developing an effective policy for battling the insurgency.
Even some Republicans at the often-testy hearing said that they were troubled by the lack of progress in Iraq and worried that public sentiment is shifting against the war.
"The public support in my state has turned. ... In the most patriotic state that I can imagine, people are beginning to question," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican. "And I don't think it's a blip on the radar screen. I think we have a chronic problem on our hands."
Mr. Cheney, speaking on CNN yesterday, defended his remarks, saying that the Iraqis were well on their way to establishing a democratically elected government in Iraq. "When we do, that will be the end of the insurgency," he said.
The three generals who testified before the Senate yesterday, including Gen. Abizaid, were far more guarded in their remarks. Even as they conceded that the insurgency hadn't been seriously depleted, Gen. Abizaid and his fellow officers insisted that progress was being made in Iraq -- particularly on the political side. After months of political wrangling, Iraqi political leaders recently struck a deal to greatly increase the level of Sunni involvement in the council drafting the Iraqi constitution, boosting hopes that the document will be accepted by all of Iraq's fractious groups.
U.S. officials are hopeful that a referendum on a new Iraqi constitution, tentatively scheduled for mid-October, and a countrywide election to seat a new government will deal significant blows to the Iraqi insurgency. "The stark reality is that insurgencies haven't done well against democratically elected governments," said Gen. George Casey, the top American commander in Iraq.
Gen. Abizaid and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were hopeful that the referendum on the constitution and subsequent elections could happen on time. "My view is that if there is a delay, it gives the insurgents an opportunity to get better organized," Gen. Abizaid said. But some Iraqi politicians involved in the process have said it's unlikely the constitution will be finished for an October referendum.
Write to Greg Jaffe at greg.jaffe@wsj.com7
