Petraeus says surge is working but Democrat disagrees Posted by the _Asbury Park Press_ (http://www.app.com/) on 09/10/07 BY RAJU CHEBIUM GANNETT NEWS SERVICE _Post Comment _ (http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20070910&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=70910072&SectionCat=&Template=printart#com ments) WASHINGTON — Gen. David Petraeus says President Bush’s decision in January to increase the number of U.S. soldiers in Iraq by 30,000 is working - a point disputed by many Democrats, including one from South Jersey.
The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said today American and Iraqi troops have dealt “significant blows” to al-Qaida and Shiite militant leaders, adding that it’s possible to reduce the U.S. military force to pre-“surge” levels of about 130,000 by next summer. Petraeus said a long-term commitment is critical to stabilize the situation in Iraq, which right now is “complex, difficult and sometimes downright frustrating.” He said U.S. objectives would be met, but in time. However, Rep. Rob Andrews, D-Haddon Heights, said nothing in Petraeus’ much-anticipated testimony to the House Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees changes his mind that the war is misguided. The U.S. should no longer referee a “civil war” between Sunnis and Shiites, he said. All U.S. forces should be pulled out in the next 1½ years and the orderly withdrawals should begin in 90 days, said Andrews, a member of the Armed Services Committee. The point of the surge, which Bush announced in January, was to reduce violence and give the Iraqi government time to gain “legitimacy” to do its job, Andrews said. Petraeus’ report shows there’s been some reduction in the violence, though that's debatable, Andrews said. He pointed to a report last week by the Government Accountability Office that shows the Iraqi government hasn't met seven of eight benchmarks of progress. ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
