Snowe: Iraq must improve to justify surge

[TexasLawyer]

Source: Maine Sunday Telegram

Snowe: Iraq must improve to justify surge

By ANNE GLEASON, Staff Writer
Maine Sunday Telegram
Sunday, May 6, 2007

Iraqi security forces are unprepared to take control of their country in the foreseeable future, Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe said Saturday after touring the war-torn nation and talking with U.S. and Iraqi officials. While some parts of the county, including Anbar province, have made significant progress, high-profile attacks are still too common, Snowe said during a conference call from Baghdad.

Snowe, a Republican, said the Iraqi government must make progress in solving its political problem to justify the current surge in U.S. troops. "I'm still not convinced of the sense of urgency (from the Iraqi government) as our forces continue to serve and sacrifice," she said.

Snowe, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, met with Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. commander in Iraq, senior U.S. intelligence officials and Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution of Iraq, a Shiite political party. She also visited with Maine soldiers at Camp Victory.

Snowe said she was told it could be four to six months before even Iraq's best forces could take over the most secure province. "They still have a ways to go," she said.

Read more: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/070506snoweuse.html

[Solly Mack]

1. As if anything about America's actions in Iraq could be justified

Fuck Snowe

[MethuenProgressive]

2. Snowe, unlike Bush, has attended funerals of Iraq/Afghan war dead.

Both Snowe and Collins, the two Republican Senators from Maine, are decent people.

[calimary]

4. Which means she, unlike bush, has felt the sorrow close up, and had

the backbone at least to be there, in person, at THOSE "Ground Zero" locations - each gravesite, that is.

It also means she's one of the wavering. She's one of those who can be worked on and peeled away. She obviously has a conscience. And it ought to be put to her - another, what is it? TWELVE more? FIVE more? ONE is too many. And how many will it be by September when they're supposed to "review" the "progress," "and then see"? Well, then let us see, indeed. If it's now working out to be about 100 of our troops who die in a month's time (as of April, a month with 30 days in it), we've got four more months, counting May. If we count September it's five months. Times 100. That's either four or five HUNDRED more troop deaths we can expect until the September "reevaluation moment"? And just when is that, in September? Early in the month or at the end?

I'd say, those of us calling her office should put THAT to her. Put it that way to her staffers. Will that be okay, to have another four or five HUNDRED casualties on our collective consciences before we're willing to call it a loss and get the hell outta there? Should we REALLY be waiting that long? Would the families of those expected casualties be okay with that???

Just askin'...

[TwilightGardener]

6. Bullshit--if they were decent, they would have voted for timetables

on the supplemental. Snowe's trying to get glory for crafting her OWN bill, instead. Both "weak sisters" are trying to walk a fine line between pleasing their constituents, who want to end the war, and their Republican masters--NO political courage. I've had it with those two.

[madrchsod]

3. how many lifes is she willing to count before she decides?

one more is one to many

[pfitz59]

5. The hell with Snowe....

She's tainted meat! Got the big "R" rating behind her name. Stands for "Reprehensible". Don't give a rat's ass what she says. Horrible, wretched woman.....

[Kagemusha]

7. If anyone needs any convincing, read this article from The Independent

Yes, it's from a legitimate newspaper so some may find it suspect, but whatever...

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2516744.ece

[Doctor_J]

8. You mean like benchmarks?

Yeesh. I can't believe someone like Snowe can't provide any more leadership than this limp pronouncement.