Lamborn To Ask Petraeus To Tell Consequences Of Troop Pullout

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
Denver Post
April 9, 2008 By Anne C. Mulkern, The Denver Post
WASHINGTON — When the top military commander in Iraq comes to the House today, one Colorado lawmaker plans to ask a question aimed at underscoring partisan differences on the troop-withdrawal issue.
Rep. Doug Lamborn, a Colorado Springs Republican who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, said he'll ask Army Gen. David Petraeus to describe what would happen if troops were withdrawn.
"Because there are some people, including a Mr. Udall in our own Colorado delegation, who say the surge has not worked, that reconciliation is not taking place . . . and they just want to start withdrawing right now, willy nilly," Lamborn said.
Rep. Mark Udall, an Eldorado Springs Democrat who also sits on the committee, was traveling Tuesday afternoon and could not be reached for comment.
In a statement, Udall said he supports "a carefully phased withdrawal of American combat forces, redeployed out of areas where civil war is raging, and with enough flexibility to ensure that elements of al-Qaeda are eliminated and humanitarian needs are secured."
Udall, among several questions, plans to ask whether the situation in Iraq is better than when the surge began, whether in terms of defeating al-Qaeda it would be better to put resources in Afghanistan, and when troop redeployments could begin.
Lamborn said he wants to draw distinctions on people's positions because "some Americans have not thought enough about what would happen if we were to precipitously withdraw," citing the Democratic presidential candidates "as well as Mr. Udall."
Said Udall spokeswoman Tara Trujillo: "Mr. Lamborn ought to focus on solutions instead of comparisons."
Lamborn said he would feel comfortable withdrawing troops only when the Iraqis can maintain security and the country is stable.
 
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