Lieberman: Diyala violence a sign that Iraq situation improving

One day removed from a Pentagon report that showed the violence getting worse in Iraq, Joe Lieberman countered Friday by writing an op-ed in the conservative Wall Street Journal newspaper.  The Connecticut Senator claimed that the spike in violence around Iraq was a testament to how much better the security situation is in Baghdad:

Some argue that the new strategy is failing because, despite gains inBaghdad and Anbar, violence has increased elsewhere in the country,such as Diyala province. This gets things backwards: Our troops havesucceeded in improving security conditions in precisely those parts ofIraq where the "surge" has focused. Al Qaeda has shifted its operationsto places like Diyala in large measure because we have made progress inpushing them out of Anbar and Baghdad. The question now is, do weconsolidate and build on the successes that the new strategy hasachieved, keeping al Qaeda on the run, or do we abandon them?

Lieberman later added:

I returned from Iraq grateful for the progress I saw and painfullyaware of the difficult problems that remain ahead. But I also returnedwith a renewed understanding of how important it is that we not abandonIraq to al Qaeda and Iran, so long as victory there is still possible.

The Senator chose not to acknowledge in the op-ed that al Qaeda and Iran are actually against one another, and that virtually all home-grown insurgents would fight foreign al Qaeda elements if US forces left Iraq.  Iraqis do not like foreigners.

Militarily speaking, the longer we stay in Iraq, the greater number of al Qaeda fighters that will be recruited.  Politically speaking, the more al Qaeda recruits, the more that neocons like Lieberman will cite that as a reason for wanting US troops to stay.

It may sound like a crazy argument, but that is the one Lieberman is using.

Comments

[Project Vote Smart]

Sen. Lieberman’s history of speeches and public statements about Iraq can be found at: Sen. Lieberman’s Record of Speeches

For more information on Sen. Lieberman’s position on Iraq please visit Project Vote Smart or call our hotline at 1-888-VOTE-SMART.

[George]

'Iraqis dont like foreigners.'

i guess that pretty much sums it up.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

I have lost a lot of respect for voters in Connecticut. Ned Lamont should be a Senator right now.

[mod232]

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