Warner Downbeat After Iraq Trip

[cal04]

U.S. at Risk of Losing Bid to Control Baghdad, Senator Says
The Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday offered a stark assessment of the situation in Iraq after a trip there this week, saying that parts of the country have taken "steps backwards" and that the United States is at risk of losing the campaign to control an increasingly violent Baghdad.

Sen. John W. Warner (Va.) told reporters on Capitol Hill that the Iraqi government is having trouble making strides and is incapable of providing even basic human necessities to people in certain areas of the country. Though Warner praised U.S. efforts to keep Iraq under control, he was far less optimistic about the situation there than he had been over the past three years.

Echoing the sentiments of several leading Democrats on his committee, Warner said he believes the United States may have to reevaluate its approach in Iraq if the situation does not improve dramatically over the next several months.

"I assure you, in two or three months, if this thing hasn't come to fruition and if this level of violence is not under control and this government able to function, I think it's a responsibility of our government internally to determine: Is there a change of course that we should take?" Warner said. "And I wouldn't take off the table any option at this time."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/05/AR2006100501645.html

[MADem]

1. Horrible circumstances, but GREAT HEADLINE

The GOP trust Warner...he may be many things, but he doesn't bullshit when it comes to national defense issues.

[w4rma]

2. Unfortunately the GOP don't trust Warner.

I live here in Virginia and Senator Allen is the favorite of Republicans of our two Senators. They say that Warner is too close to the Democrats.

At least Allen used to be. :P

[MADem]

3. I used to live in NORVA, and they seemed to tolerate him up north

and love him up down south when I was there. His SECNAV background was the big check block for most of the folks I knew who liked him.

Overall, the nation's GOP like him, despite his oft-wedded ways. He's got seniority and gravitas. Plus, he keeps his relatinship with Baba Wawa on the QT....