Hagel: Quit talking about the Surge and talk about the Future of the War

[TeamJordan23]

Thursday, Jul. 24, 2008
Hagel Chides Candidates on Iraq
By AP/ANNA JO BRATTON

(OMAHA, Neb.) — Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, fresh from an Iraq trip with Democrat Barack Obama, said the presidential candidates should focus on the war's future and stop arguing over the success of last year's troop surge.

Hagel mentioned both candidates, but his comments seemed directed at Republican John McCain. McCain, while Obama traveled the Middle East, attacked Obama for opposing the military escalation last year that increased security in Iraq.

"Quit talking about, 'Did the surge work or not work,' or, 'Did you vote for this or support this,'" Hagel said Thursday on a conference call with reporters.

"Get out of that. We're done with that. How are we going to project forward?" the Nebraska senator said. "What are we going to do for the next four years to protect the interest of America and our allies and restructure a new order in the world. ... That's what America needs to hear from these two candidates. And that's where I am."

Hagel, too, opposed the troop increase strategy, though he acknowledged Thursday it brought about positive changes. "When you flood the zone with superior American military firepower, and you put 30,000 of the world's best troops in a country, there's going to be a result there," Hagel said.

Whether the surge worked, though, can't be measured, Hagel said, arguing the small gains came at a high price. He said President Bush's decision last year to dispatch an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq has cost more than 1,000 American lives and billions of dollars.

Though Hagel is a Republican, his name has been floated as a potential vice presidential running mate for Obama. Like McCain, he is a Vietnam war veteran, but Hagel is a fierce critic of the war in Iraq. He has said he would consider running with Obama on the Democratic ticket but that he doesn't expect to be asked. He is not running for reelection.

Continue Reading: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1826377,00.html

[eleny]

1. Only a Republican could say that about the Blessed Surge

[babylonsister]

2. Good! McGaffe, are you listening? nt

[Tempest]

3. That's why the NY Times wouldn't run McSame's screed

He didn't say what his plan was and refused to re-write the piece to include it.

[Inuca]

4. Great reply

Asked how Republican Senate colleagues reacted to his traveling with the presumed Democratic nominee, Hagel said he hadn't really discussed it with them and, "I didn't ask their permission."

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/24/nebs-hagel-says-gains-in-iraq-came-at-high-cost/

[gateley]

5. Agree -- GREAT reply! nt

[Colobo]

6. Thanks, Sen. Hagel!

[Colobo]

7. Thanks, Sen. Hagel!

[TwilightGardener]

8. Hagel is clearly backing Obama up--they are on the exact same page RE the

surge and the war. He seems to want to avoid taking an obvious side against McCain, though--come on, Chuck! You know you want to endorse Obama. Just freakin' do it already.

[ruggerson]

9. wow this guy sounds like vice presidential material

:P

[Inuca]

10. Back at you

:P :-)

[tekisui]

11. SecDef.

No pukes in line, please.

[Kolesar]

12. Changing from the stupid policies of Rumsfeld, Sanchez &Abizaid ought to have yielded better results

...as was seen by Petraeus' surge strategy. Does anybody remember that the surge was an option from the Baker-Hamilton commission?