John Warner(R) suggests Congress re-examine authority for * to wage war

[dajoki]

MSNBC
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14170860/

Iraq could 'descend into civil war'
Financial Times

By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington

Updated: 22 minutes ago
Iraq could descend into civil war if the recent surge in violence in Baghdad is not stopped, two senior US generals said on Thursday.

"The sectarian violence is probably as bad as I've seen it," General John Abizaid, head of US Central Command, which oversees the Iraq war, told the Senate armed services committee. "If not stopped, it is possible Iraq could move toward civil war."

Gen Abizaid's comments came in response to a question about a leaked memo from William Patey, the outgoing British ambassador to Iraq, which warned that civil war was a more likely outcome in Iraq than the emergence of a stable democracy.

Mr Patey's memo to the prime minister and cabinet, which was leaked to the BBC, added: "Even the lowered expectation of President Bush for Iraq – a government that can sustain itself, defend itself and govern itself and is an ally in the war on terror – must remain in doubt."

Gen Abizaid's remarks prompted John Warner, the committee's influential Republican chairman, to suggest that Congress might have to re-examine the authority it gave the president to wage war in Iraq.

[Doctor_J]

1. The horses are gone, John

a little too late to close the barn door. What grandstanding. Pretty tame too, considering the bald-faced lie that Abizaid told.

[dajoki]

2. jumping a sinking ship n/t

[Erika]

3. The GOP rubber stamped W into going into Iraq

And just now they are having second thoughts. Almost 2600 troops dead. No WMD's, no drones, no mushroom clouds.

They now are have second thoughts? After almost 2,600 troops dead? Just now?

[burythehatchet]

4. I'm afraid that its not about second thoughts

the committee heads are all singing different tunes in preparation for a possible dem sweep in Nov.

[snowbear]

5. Yeah.. I was thinking..

...something smelled funny..

[dajoki]

12. Elections!!

[karynnj]

6. Why the sarcasm - this is one of the first Republican moves

to suggest that the Bush PNAC adventure should end.

Warner is one of the more decent Republicans - he may be seeing that an approach to get us out of the civil war and eventually out of Iraq is not a bad idea.

When the Kerry/Feingold amendment was voted on he was more respectful to Kerry and Feingold than Reid was. An interesting memory was that he debated Kerry for about a half an hour and indicated that many ideas in his plan were well thought out and interesting - but said the timing was wrong. He spoke of the Iraqi government being new and on the virge of working out and it sent the wrong message as the 2 captured soldiers had been murdered.

If he's questioning the start, I think it may be because he doesn't like where he is. He's the head of the Armed Services Committee - so if he is questioning anything - that's better than if he's not.

[Erika]

7. I have zero respect for the GOP rubber stamping of W policies

This man oversaw the Armed Services Committee and still rubber stamped W? He's lucky he's not facing war crimes.

[snowbear]

8. At times I think he's ok... then he always goes and blows it..

Like during the torture debates.. he could have been a pitbull and really gotten some answers.. His dedication I think.. to his party held him back.

And that's a shame..

Maybe he is sincere this time.. I guess we'll have to wait and see before we make a judgement.. Zat better karynnj?

[nealmhughes]

9. I agree. At times he actually acts like a senator ought to act,

whether I, myself agree with him. I remember his one-on-one with Senator Bryd last summer. That was superb, real Henry Clay and Daniel Webster type stuff.

I have a feeling that Ole' Johnnie thinks that the Bushes are a bit declasse for him...the money is too new and Prescott's daddy was from Ohio! And actually in manufacturing, why that is almost as bad as being in trade...

Cheney and Rumsfeld: he probably uses a linen hankie after using the hand sanitizer immediately after leaving their presence...

[karynnj]

10. Ok, - I hadn't meant my comment to sound

the way it did - more that maybe this could be a positive glimmer.

Like you, I've seen times where it looked like some Republicans would break away and speak the truth, but as you say, they back down. (an example was Lugar - I always respected the way he ran his committee, but was horrified when he in one Bolton hearing turned into a near tyrant - a huge transformation.)

I do think, mostly from that debate with Kerry, where he did parrot the Bush line on "the new government", that there was a genuine concern for the troops and the policy in some of what he was saying. (In fact, I saw more of that with him than with Lieberman or Clinton.) (adding that I think all have at least some concern - just that it seems more personal and real with some.)

[wisteria]

11. I agree with you. He mostly seems to be a genuinely concerned

Republican- one from the old school. I think it is a positive sign that he is questioning the administration and suggesting certain things should be looked into.