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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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September 5th,
2007 - GAO Skeptical that Iraq Security Can Last |
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GAO Skeptical that Iraq Security
Can Last By Paul Richter Los Angeles Times September 5, 2007 Washington - As Congress
opened a monthlong showdown with President Bush over Iraq, Senate war critics
on Tuesday demanded evidence that the security improvements claimed by the
White House could be sustained once American forces hand off the task of
maintaining order to Iraqi military units. Establishing a theme likely
to be repeated during upcoming hearings, Democratic senators pressed the
nation's senior legislative analyst for indications that security gains could
last. But David M. Walker, head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office,
said it remained unclear whether Iraq's military and police were capable of
maintaining the improvements brought about since an additional 28,500 U.S.
troops were sent to Iraq earlier this year. Bush and U.S. commanders
repeatedly have pointed to declines in both sectarian killings and attacks on
security forces in underscoring the need to continue stepped-up U.S. efforts.
But Democrats on Tuesday sought to highlight the country's continuing
instability. "Do you think that the
Iraqi security forces will be able to hold neighborhoods cleared by American
forces?" Sen. Russell D. Feingold (D-Wis.) asked Walker. "Is there
any reason to think that any gains that have been made during the recent
surge will actually hold in the long run?" Replied Walker: "I
think there's serious question as to whether or not they on their own will be
able to hold these neighborhoods for an extended period of time." The new environment "is
an improvement, but it's separate and distinct as to whether it's
sustainable," Walker told members of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee in rolling out a generally bleak report on the U.S. mission. With Army Gen. David H.
Petraeus expected to deliver a more upbeat progress report to Congress on
Monday, war critics are trying to use a series of hearings this week to frame
the issue. Reviewing the GAO report, they pointed out that government
auditors disputed the administration's contention that the troop buildup has
improved security overall and pointed out that progress toward political
reconciliation has been scant. The GAO report found that of
18 designated benchmarks set out for Iraqi leaders last year, the country has
met three, partially met four and failed to meet 11. The agency's findings
that benchmarks had not been met were widely reported last week. Walker said data were
contradictory on whether sectarian violence in Iraq had, in fact, declined.
Some data examined by auditors "show increases, some show decreases, and
some show inconsistent patterns," he said. And he noted that the
average number of attacks was the same in July as it was in February, when
planning for the troop buildup was just beginning. Walker said that only two of
nine benchmarks dealing with security had been met: The government has
established security posts in Baghdad, and it has organized committees to
carry out the Baghdad security plan. But, he said, it had failed
on five others. The government had not, for example, eliminated militia
control of local security, ended political meddling in security operations or
increased the number of army units capable of operating without U.S. support. Walker denied under
questioning by senators that he had changed any of the report's conclusions
because of administration pressure. But, he said, after the Pentagon provided
additional data, he had decided to change two benchmark ratings to
"partially met" - on the requirements to provide three capable
Iraqi brigades to support Baghdad security operations and to shut down all
"safe havens" where enemy fighters could find protection. Tuesday's hearing was the
first of a parade of upcoming sessions as Democratic lawmakers discussed how
to resume their campaign to force Bush to begin a troop withdrawal. Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D-Nev.) again challenged his Republican colleagues to join the effort. "It's time to make a
decision," Reid said from the Senate floor. "We can't continue the
way we are." But neither Reid nor House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), both of whom aggressively pushed
troop withdrawal legislation before the August recess, have outlined what
precisely they will do next. Democrats acknowledge they
still do not have enough Republican votes to send the president a firm
timeline for pulling out troops. But any compromise that might attract GOP
support may outrage a Democratic antiwar base increasingly frustrated by
Congress' inability to successfully challenge the White House over the war. Democratic leaders in the
House and Senate met Tuesday evening. Discussions were expected to resume in
earnest today when Senate Democrats meet for their weekly luncheon and House
Democrats hold their weekly caucus meeting. Also Tuesday, a bipartisan
group of House lawmakers, expressing frustration with the president's troop
buildup and the fierce partisan debates over the war, sent a letter to Pelosi
and House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) urging a bipartisan
dialogue on Iraq. "We should not wait any
longer to come together in support of a responsible post-surge strategy to
safely bring our troops home to their families," the 11 lawmakers wrote. Times staff writer Noam N.
Levey contributed to this report. External link: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-usiraq5sep05,0,6993223.story |