The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Marketplace
    • Autos
    • Jobs
    • Real Estate
    • Classifieds
    • Shopping
    • Dining Out
    • Education
    • TWT Store
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • Sports

    Offense erupts in Caps' victory

  • National

    KUHNHENN: 10% jobless rate is Obama's troubling world

  • World

    Joint forces probe NATO air strike

  • National

    Fla. shooting suspect 'mentally ill'

  • Business

    Parents buying homes for kids at college

  • Politics

    Looking to 2010, GOP focuses on fiscal restraint

  • National

    Sunshine vitamin stirs new debate

Home » News » National

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Petraeus warns of Iraq backslide

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos
Please stand by, images loading!
  • Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times
  • Allison Shelley/The Washington Times
  • Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times
A protester holds up an anti-war banner as Gen. Petraeus waited to speak to the Senate Armed Services Committee. His testimony was later disrupted by a protester, who shouted, Bring them home, before the man was removed by Capitol Police.
  • Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times
A protester holds up an anti-war banner as Gen. Petraeus waited to speak to the Senate Armed Services Committee. His testimony was later disrupted by a protester, who shouted, Bring them home, before the man was removed by Capitol Police.Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times
  • Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times
LOOKING FORWARD: Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the U.S. forces in Iraq, reports on the progress in Iraq in the past six months during Senate hearings yesterday. All three presidential candidates — Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama — addressed him and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker but focused on statements that boosted their own positions.

More National Stories

  • With its 'Mother' dead, future of doomsday sect is in doubt
  • Fla. shooting suspect 'mentally ill'
  • Nation Briefs
  • 19-year-old led L.A. celebrity burglaries

By

Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker yesterday warned lawmakers that "fragile and reversible" security gains in Iraq would be shattered by Democrats' pullout plans and stressed the urgency of keeping Iran in check.

"Iran continues to undermine the efforts of the Iraqi government to establish a stable, secure state through ... training of criminal militia elements engaged in violence against Iraqi security forces, coalition forces and Iraqi civilians," Mr. Crocker told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Gen. Petraeus, who appeared with the ambassador to give the war report mandated by the Democrat-led Congress, said the U.S. troop surge had drastically reduced violence and helped the Iraqi government take control of about half the country's 18 provinces.

But the general said he did not know how many U.S. troops would be in Iraq at year's end. He said he's recommended a pause in troop withdrawals in midsummer to ensure that U.S. forces can keep pressure on al Qaeda terrorists and other destabilizing elements.

"External actors like Iran could stoke violence within Iraq, and actions by other neighbors could undermine the security situation as well," the general said.

Democrats at the hearings pushed for a pullout strategy and said the Bush administration has been saying for five years that it was turning the corner in Iraq.

  • Sharon Behn: Iraq envoy urges U.S. to be patient, use sway

    Video:Petraeus recommends suspending troop drawdowns

    Video:Green Zone attack marks war anniversary

    Photos:Congress grills Gen. Petraeus

    They also questioned the general and the ambassador about the slow pace of political reform by the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the oil-rich country's failure to pay for the war or reconstruction.

    Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said Mr. Bush had failed to hold the Iraqi government accountable, resulting in the high price paid by U.S. troops and taxpayers. He said a pullout was the answer.

    "An announcement of an open-ended pause in troop reduction starting in July would simply send the wrong message to the Iraqi leaders," the Michigan Democrat said. "Rather, we need to put continuous and increasing pressure on the Iraqis to settle their political differences, to pay for their own reconstruction with their oil windfalls and to take the lead in conducting military operations."

    He continued, "The way to do that is to adopt a reasonable timetable for a change of mission and redeployment of most of our troops, promptly shifting responsibility to the Iraqis for their own future, politically, militarily and economically is the best hope for a successful outcome in Iraq and represents finally an exit strategy for most of our troops."

  • 123Next »

    Post a comment

    There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

    Please login or register to post a comment

    Ask a Question

    You Report

    Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

    Top Stories

    Most Read

    1. EXCLUSIVE: Rare virus poses new threat to troops
    2. Sniper's ex-wife speaks out on abuse
    3. PRUDEN: Corpse sits up, gets nice salute
    4. Inside the Beltway
    5. Parents buying homes for kids at college
    More Top Stories »
    1. Armored troop carriers called unsafe for duty
    2. 13 killed at Texas army base; psychiatrist accused
    3. Aborted fetus cells used in beauty creams
    4. Army: Suspect said 'Allahu Akbar!' before shooting
    5. House OKs health reform bill

    Most Shared

    1. EXCLUSIVE: Rare virus poses new threat to troops
    2. Parents buying homes for kids at college
    3. EDITORIAL: Too scared to recognize terrorism
    4. Sunshine vitamin stirs new debate
    5. Aborted fetus cells used in beauty creams
    More Top Stories »
    1. Israelis unsure of U.S. support
    2. Obama's unlearned lesson
    3. EDITORIAL: Obama has a 'Pet Goat' moment
    4. EDITORIAL: The negative Obama factor
    5. EDITORIAL: The grass roots keep growing

    Most Commented

    1. House OKs health reform bill
    2. Muslims stunned by Fort Hood shooting
    3. Furious scramble for health reform support
    4. EDITORIAL: Too scared to recognize terrorism
    5. 'Gentle' Army psychiatrist displayed worrisome signs
    More Top Stories »
    1. Obama praises those who ended Fort Hood violence
    2. Army: Suspect said 'Allahu Akbar!' before shooting
    3. EXCLUSIVE: Rare virus poses new threat to troops
    4. Israelis unsure of U.S. support
    5. Making fun of faith

    Listen to Washington Times Radio

    • America's Morning News

      with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

    Question of the day

    Do you think the health reform bill will pass?

    Blogs & Columns

    • POTUS Notes

      New Dem talking point on Obama approval doesn't wash

    • The Back Story

      12 arrested at Pelosi's office

    • Belief Blog

      Washington goes Greek this week

    • Out of Context

      Foods that might kill libido

    • Technology

      Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

    • On the Fly

      United lifts some 'award' blocking

    • Redskins 360

      Mitchell, Henson are active

    • Tara's Two Cents

      On their way to summer vacation..

    • SNOBlog

      Beyond 'Woody'

    Videos

    Advertising Links
    TWT Store
    • e-edition
    • Print Edition
    • Weekly Washington Times
    TWT Affiliates
    • Middle East Times
    • Golf
    • UPI
    • Arbor Ballroom
    • Washington Times Global
    • About TWT
    • Press Room
    • F.A.Q.
    • Work for TWT
    • Advertise
    • Sponsors
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Site Map

    All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.