US politicians urge more security duties on Iraq (cut & run all the rage)

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Leading US politicians said that Iraq's security situation could improve if the Washington cedes more security responsibilities to Iraqi troops while drawing down its own forces there.

"I think (a withdrawal) would really help the Iraqi people come together and to be able to forge a country," said Democratic senator Russ Feingold on ABC television.

"As long as it's seen as an American occupation, it helps the Al-Zarqawis and others to bring insurgents in, to bring terrorists in, and we need to reverse that problem.... Our presence is making things worse," Feingold said.

"We've got to put a lot more pressure on the Iraqis to come together politically because there's not going to be a military success there, according to our own commanders, unless the Iraqis do pull together their politics," said Democratic senator Carl Levin told the Fox News Sunday program.

"But if they think that we're there regardless ... it takes pressure off them to make the compromises that are necessary to make those changes in the constitution," said Levin, a longtime critic of the US occupation of Iraq.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051127/pl_afp/usiraqtroopspolitics