Senate Foreign Relations Comm Hearing on IRAQ NOW

[TayTay]

Not advertised.

ON NOW:

http://foreign.senate.gov / (Weblink)

HEARING
before the

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION

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Monday, July 18, 2005

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Time: 9:30 AM
Place: 216 Hart Senate Office Building
Presiding: Senator Lugar

Witnesses:
Dr. Kenneth M. Pollack
Director of Research and Senior Fellow
Saban Center for Middle East Policy
The Brookings Institution
Washington, DC
General Barry R. McCaffrey, USA (Ret.)
President
BR McCaffrey Associates, LLC
Arlington, VA
Dr. Anthony H. Cordesman
Arleigh A. Burke Chair for Strategy
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Washington, DC

[Greeby]

1. I see

Watching now. :popcorn:

[CWebster]

2. The thing that bothers me is

the entire situation is never discussed within the context of whether it is legitimate.

The disconnect to reality is mind boggling.

For example they are discussing training Iraqi security forces--which are obviously viewed as in league with, and operating as a proxy force for the occupiers and targeted by Iraqis for that reason.

[CWebster]

3. Anyone listening to these idiots? nt

[TayTay]

4. I am. (But am at work. so I get interrupted)

McAffrey's argument seems to be that we need troops on the ground in Iraq doing the training. He (not me) believes that we are making slow progress. We can't bring the Iraqis anywhere else and get them trained.

[CWebster]

5. The problem is

no one challenges the agenda or frame of reference of those who are testifying.

[CWebster]

6. McCafferty just stated

"the wheels are coming off the US National Guard"


"No more US forces available for Iraq"

[TayTay]

7. Well, I agree with something he said today

I disagree about what I have heard on some of this other stuff.

Wow! Dr. Kenneth M. Pollack is talking some truth about troop levels and restructurng the American military. His points are worth talking about.

5 years in Iraq. Well, at least they are in agreement.

EDIT: Id'd wrong guy. Sorry

[CWebster]

8. Just got back

missed it.

Talking about using contaractors now.

[TayTay]

9. I hope this is repeated on C-Span

Some committees archive the hearings. (Like Commerce) Some don't I will have the transcript tomorrow morning. This has been good.

McCaffrey's strong assertions that the military is severely stressed and on the brink of a possible collapse (espeically the National Guard) is ominous. As is his assertion that the US support is rapidly waning for this Iraq occupation.

Good hearing. There are whoopers being told, but some truth is also leaking out.

[CWebster]

10. Agree.

That last comment about this being a nationalistic resistance was the first time I heard that slip out.

[CWebster]

11. "...can't get Iraqis to do it for themselves"

lol.

What a smacked ass.

[CWebster]

12. McCafferty just said

"Baghdad is thousands of times (?) more dangerous than Saigon ever was.

[TayTay]

13. Wow!

Why aren't some of the best hearings more broadly televised? (Okay, Duh on my part. We know why.) But this was a good hearing.

[CWebster]

15. Yeah, it is amazing

and not a peep echoed anywhere.

[CWebster]

14. "where is the oil money going?"

Chalabi is the minister of oil. Amazing how this one slimy snake managed to get over repeatedly on the global superpower.

[CWebster]

16. The insurgency hasn't peaked yet

according to trend lines.

[TayTay]

17. No I was away

And am catching up. Sorry. (Again, I hope C-Span got this. Iwould like to hear it again.)

[CWebster]

18. Priceless hearing

I am surprised no one is paying attention.

Interesting insights into the Iranian-Iraqi relationship--and how elements in the present US government are destructive.

[TayTay]

19. The comments on the military being so damaged

and on how difficult it is to train the Iraqis has been very interesting. (I did miss part of this hearing, sorry to say.)

Hagel was great!

[CWebster]

20. Yes--and he didn't hold back in criticizing the

current administration as being out of orbit.

[TayTay]

22. Hagel is impressing me so much lately

I disagree with his policy positions and his stands on the issues. I can't disagree with his integrity in his talks on Iraq and on the situation over there. He has been a straight-shooter.

[CWebster]

21. That was excellent TayTay

Thanks for the link!