"Rethinking" our commitment to Iraq.

[Clarkie1]

Seven U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHARA, Associated Press Writer

Sunday, May 8, 2005

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(05-08) 12:27 PDT BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) --

An explosion of insurgent violence in Iraq killed seven U.S. servicemembers over the weekend even as the Shiite-dominated parliament reached out Sunday to Sunni Arabs, approving four more of their number to serve as government ministers.

The spiking violence — including roadside bombs and suicide attacks — has raised concern in Washington where Sen. Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said only a quarter of the 168,000 Iraqi forces being trained and equipped by the U.S.-led coalition "are able and willing to take on the insurgents." Political infighting presented as big a challenge, he told ABC's "This Week" TV program.

Levin said if Iraqis fail to write a constitution, elect a new government and develop reliable security forces by early next year, Washington will have to rethink its commitment to Iraq. Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, agreed.

Less than half of parliament — 112 of the 115 lawmakers present — approved al-Jaafari's nominations. The poor showing underscored the persistent ethnic and religious tensions that have hampered the new government since the parliament was elected.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/05/08/international/i122709D02.DTL

[ladjf]

1. You and I can rethink the situation in Iraq.

Unfortunately, the people in charge aren't re-thinking anything. They are proceeding "pedal to the metal" with the original PNAC plan.