WASHINGTON—Colorado’s congressional Democrats said a status report from the administration’s top officials in Iraq proves “President Bush’s war strategy has failed.” The state’s Republicans urged more patience.
“It’s time to do something different and get our military out of this,” said Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., who also is a 2008 Senate candidate.
But Colorado Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo, a 2008 presidential hopeful, complimented the administration’s progress, saying he was optimistic that it would allow the U.S. to disengage from the war soon.
“Victory will come as long as congressional micromanagement does not stand in the way of our troops,” said Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn, whose district includes five major military installations.
Gen. David Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, told a skeptical and deeply divided House Armed Services Committee Monday afternoon that the military objectives of last winter’s buildup of troops in Iraq “are in large measure being met” and that the extra troops could be pulled out by next summer. A decision about further troop reductions could be made next March, they said.
They will appear again before the Senate on Tuesday. Their reports will shape the next stages in the war.
GOP Sen. Wayne Allard said he is worried that the Iraqi government isn’t making enough progress at taking control of the country. Still, he said, “I believe we should follow Gen. Petraeus’ recommendation.”
Democrats, however, are pushing for change.
Rep. Diana DeGette said Petraeus’ report “confirms that President Bush’s war strategy has failed” and that “the clock is running out on the president’s failed war.”
Sen. Ken Salazar and Rep. Ed Perlmutter also said it was time for change.
Salazar and Udall are key co-sponsors of bipartisan bills in the House and Senate calling on Bush to adopt the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. The independent panel urged Bush to hand off the combat mission to the Iraqis and step up diplomatic efforts, paving the way for a 2008 drawdown of U.S. troops.
“I continue to believe we need a bipartisan approach focused on a diplomatic surge, a shift in mission from counterinsurgency to training the Iraqi troops, and a responsible redeployment plan,” said Udall, the sole Colorado lawmaker on the House Armed Services Committee.
Udall said he believes that a strategy similar to the group’s recommendations will eventually be followed.
