Lieberman stands with McCain
Lieberman stands with McCain PETER URBAN purban@ctpost.com
Article Last Updated: 01/06/2007 01:43:36 AM EST
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, prepares to shake hands with Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn. as...«1»WASHINGTON — Sen. Joe Lieberman joined Sen. John McCain on Friday in calling for a "substantial and sustained" increase in American troops in Iraq, at the same time opening the possibility he would support the Arizona Republican in his bid for the presidency.Lieberman praised McCain, who is considering a run for president next year, for his willingness to stand up for an unpopular policy.
"He's not taking an easy way out here," said Lieberman, who won re-election as an independent candidate in the November election after failing to win the Democratic nomination.
Lieberman said he is not ready to endorse a presidential candidate, but would not rule out backing McCain. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., a longtime friend of Lieberman, has said he is considering running for president. After Lieberman lost the senatorial primary last summer, Dodd supported the party's nominee, businessman Ned Lamont.
Lieberman unsuccessfully sought the presidency in 2004, dropping out after failing to win any state primaries. He unsuccessfully ran for vice president as Al Gore's running mate in 2000.
Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute, Lieberman said the increase in troops "must be robust. It must be substantial. And, it must be sustained." Lieberman and McCain recently returned from a trip to Iraq where they came away convinced the war is not lost. While they did not specify numbers, the two lawmakers said at least three additional brigades are needed in Baghdad and two
in violence-wracked Anbar province, west of the capital. A brigade has about 3,000 to 4,000 troops.Lieberman said failure in Iraq would be catastrophic because it would lead to an empowered Iran, give al-Qaida a base in Iraq and intimidate moderate voices in the Middle East.
President Bush is expected to call next week for an increase in troops in Iraq. McCain and Lieberman are the only senators forcefully behind him.
Lieberman acknowledged he is a minority voice but insists that boosting security is needed for the Iraqi government to succeed.
"There is a moderate coalition within the Iraq government that is trying to create a center where each of the ethnic groups can be involved," he said. "We owe them."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., sent a letter Friday to President Bush urging against increasing troop levels.
"We want to do everything we can to help Iraq succeed in the future, but, like many of our senior military leaders, we do not believe that adding more U.S. combat troops contributes to success," they wrote.
Lieberman expects Congress to have heated debates on Iraq policy but does not expect Democrats to cut funding to prevent the president from sending additional troops into Baghdad.
"It would be an extreme action in a time of war to attempt to block funding. I don't anticipate that happening," he said.
McCain said increasing troops in Iraq will mean more sacrifice and will not guarantee victory, but said he sees it as the only avenue for success in Iraq.
"I believe success is still possible but it will be very, very difficult," he said.
http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_4960466
Article Last Updated: 01/06/2007 01:43:36 AM EST
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, prepares to shake hands with Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn. as...«1»WASHINGTON — Sen. Joe Lieberman joined Sen. John McCain on Friday in calling for a "substantial and sustained" increase in American troops in Iraq, at the same time opening the possibility he would support the Arizona Republican in his bid for the presidency.Lieberman praised McCain, who is considering a run for president next year, for his willingness to stand up for an unpopular policy.
"He's not taking an easy way out here," said Lieberman, who won re-election as an independent candidate in the November election after failing to win the Democratic nomination.
Lieberman said he is not ready to endorse a presidential candidate, but would not rule out backing McCain. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., a longtime friend of Lieberman, has said he is considering running for president. After Lieberman lost the senatorial primary last summer, Dodd supported the party's nominee, businessman Ned Lamont.
Lieberman unsuccessfully sought the presidency in 2004, dropping out after failing to win any state primaries. He unsuccessfully ran for vice president as Al Gore's running mate in 2000.
Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute, Lieberman said the increase in troops "must be robust. It must be substantial. And, it must be sustained." Lieberman and McCain recently returned from a trip to Iraq where they came away convinced the war is not lost. While they did not specify numbers, the two lawmakers said at least three additional brigades are needed in Baghdad and two
in violence-wracked Anbar province, west of the capital. A brigade has about 3,000 to 4,000 troops.Lieberman said failure in Iraq would be catastrophic because it would lead to an empowered Iran, give al-Qaida a base in Iraq and intimidate moderate voices in the Middle East.
President Bush is expected to call next week for an increase in troops in Iraq. McCain and Lieberman are the only senators forcefully behind him.
Lieberman acknowledged he is a minority voice but insists that boosting security is needed for the Iraqi government to succeed.
"There is a moderate coalition within the Iraq government that is trying to create a center where each of the ethnic groups can be involved," he said. "We owe them."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., sent a letter Friday to President Bush urging against increasing troop levels.
"We want to do everything we can to help Iraq succeed in the future, but, like many of our senior military leaders, we do not believe that adding more U.S. combat troops contributes to success," they wrote.
Lieberman expects Congress to have heated debates on Iraq policy but does not expect Democrats to cut funding to prevent the president from sending additional troops into Baghdad.
"It would be an extreme action in a time of war to attempt to block funding. I don't anticipate that happening," he said.
McCain said increasing troops in Iraq will mean more sacrifice and will not guarantee victory, but said he sees it as the only avenue for success in Iraq.
"I believe success is still possible but it will be very, very difficult," he said.
http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_4960466
posted by presgore19 at 4:43 AM
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