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Hagel: Time to accept Iraq sovereignty

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By DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 - 04:50:48 pm CDT

Sen. Chuck Hagel said Tuesday the time has come to recognize the sovereignty of Iraq and begin to withdraw U.S. combat troops.

The United States should “start accepting the sovereignty of that country in ways that are real,” Hagel told a news conference in Jordan.

“And that means for us to responsibly start unwinding our military presence.”

Story Photo
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (left), Gen. David Petraeus (center) and U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., in a helicopter in Baghdad on Monday. (AP / U.S. Army)

Related Link(s):


Sen. Chuck Hagel's statement from Amman, Jordan
Obama: Now, Iraq needs a political solution

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has called for a withdrawal timeline that would end the U.S. combat troop presence in 2010.   

Hagel joined presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., at the televised news conference in Amman after the trio’s congressional visit to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama’s long-stated goal of a phased 16-month withdrawal of U.S. combat troops would roughly match the timeline proposed by al-Maliki this week.

Hagel has long argued for a phased withdrawal to begin.

“We must now move beyond what we have been able to accomplish with the Iraqis, beyond just a tactical security success, and get to a strategic political success,” Hagel said, according to a transcript of his remarks.

While preparing to draw down its combat force in Iraq, the United States needs to recognize the need for “an additional military response” to increasing violence and insecurity in Afghanistan, he said.

But military action is not enough, Hagel said.

Economic development programs, intelligence sharing and diplomacy also are required, he said.

A regional diplomatic focus on challenges in the Middle East requires engagement with Iran and Syria, he said.

“Pakistan is now part of any long-term solution” in Afghanistan, Hagel said.

“That’s going to require a tri-lateral policy with the United States (and) the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

Jordan marked the conclusion of the Mideast trip by the three senators. Obama moved on to a separate journey to Israel, the Palestinian territories and major capitals in Europe.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com.


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Jeff wrote on July 22, 2008 1:07 pm:
" Show-boater, photo op, grandstander. How dare he attempt to make the GOP/Bush administration look bad by proposing diplomatic solutions and a long term strategy. "

 Dano wrote on July 22, 2008 1:23 pm:
" You mean Iraq isn't the 51st state of the union? I thought they were. Guess I need to update my maps and such. "

 ellfie wrote on July 22, 2008 1:29 pm:
" Thought Hagel was not running for re-election. Why is he even on this tax payer funded photo op? Why is he making recommendations about Iraqi policy? Who cares what he thinks? Too bad Petreus couldn't, wouldn't, can't or won't, tell him and Obama to go away and let the US Military do a man's job, which these 2 arent capable of doing. They both should follow the advice, "If you can't be part of the solution, at least don't be part of the problem". Hope Israel tells them both to "don't bother" we have citizens to keep alive and don't need or want interference from either of you. "

 Look Bad wrote on July 22, 2008 1:41 pm:
" Over the past seven years Bush and the GOP have done mighty fine looking bad all by themselves. They don't need help with that from anyone. "

 To Jeff wrote on July 22, 2008 2:03 pm:
" It doesn't take much to make the GOP/Bush administration look bad when it comes to the war. Bush is making himself look bad all on his own.

Hagel may not be running for re-election, but he may be on the ticket as VP. "

 chipofftheolGOPblock wrote on July 22, 2008 2:05 pm:
" Tough what some of you Nebrakans think Hagel

He ISN'T a robotron for Bush and the ever lackluster Cheney "

 C. Hagel wrote on July 22, 2008 2:07 pm:
" Hagel will be a part of Obama's adminstration so bankrupt conservatives go ahead and cry all you want. Real men will be in charge now. "

 NameIt wrote on July 22, 2008 2:14 pm:
" Since victory has never been defined, could ellfie define a man's job? Perhaps efflie is unaware our military takes orders. Why can't our administration side with the Iraq PM wanting a withdraw when by their own admission that's when we were to do it. Why the bush flip-flop now? "

 Tired of you silly people wrote on July 22, 2008 2:47 pm:
" When are you die hard Bush/Cheney supporters going to step back and appreciate that Hagel has the guts to speak out against the BS that has been fed to us by Bush/Cheney administration. Kudos to Hagel for standing up for what is right - something Bush/Cheney are not capable of doing. I'll tell you what, you put Hagel on either ticket, and I'll vote for that ticket on his merits alone. "

 stan wrote on July 22, 2008 2:54 pm:
" The more Obama has coat tail Hagel taging along the more he is allowing MCCain to gain support. The more Hagel becomes involved in this campaign the more I am likely not to vote for Obama.. Poor decission on his behalf. Hagel is nothging more that a thorn in ones side. If he was so focussed why did he not do something when he was in Washington. Another example of our government doing nothing about something. "

 MarkyMark wrote on July 22, 2008 2:58 pm:
" I can answer your question ellfie. Chuck Hagel is a US Senator until January. He is doing is job. Thanks for asking the simple question. Contrary to what you may believe, it's not all about politics. It's about policy. "

 Maybe he is doing what he thinks is right wrote on July 22, 2008 3:02 pm:
" Maybe not all Senators are politicians at heart. Maybe Senator Hagel is just doing what he thinks is right? Scary, I know, but some elected officials may actually be public servants rather than career politicians. I do care what he thinks! "

 Darren wrote on July 22, 2008 3:09 pm:
" I can understand why the republicans don't like Hagel. They don't appreciate being able to think for yourself and having your own ideas. We should continue the Bush path since it's done such a great job of getting us here to the scene of the crash. "

 dan wrote on July 22, 2008 3:22 pm:
" Bush is war dodging rich boy that does not know the personal effects of war. Hagel has been there and knows what he's talking about. remember, a political party is not like a sports team, you don't support them always, only when they are right, and ignorance is contagious, as these message boards prove. Please educate yourselves. "

 xgman wrote on July 22, 2008 3:37 pm:
" This is not a matter of pro-Bush or Republican v. Democrat politics. Let's get out or Iraq, and send the thousands of Iraqi military deserters home to rebuild their own country. This includes the hundreds of trained soldiers living in Lincoln. Also, get a signed agreement where the U.S. won't send troops back when Iraq starts crying for UN/NATO help when the real violence starts in that lawless nation. "

 mathme wrote on July 22, 2008 3:48 pm:
" Hagel is one of the few things in recent years that has made me politically proud of my state. He has spoken out about his feelings on the war, what he observes happening, and has bucked the GOP talking points. I hope that one day, after the truth about this war gets out, that we can all look back proudly on our courageous Senator. I might not agree with him on much else, and I don't think that he'd be an idea VP for Obama, but I hope that we see more of him in the next administration. I mean, he isn't saying anything too outlandish. Isn't the entire point of Operation Iraqi Liberation the... um... "liberation" of Iraq? They want to stand up, but we're holding them down. "

 ellfie wrote on July 22, 2008 3:51 pm:
" Stuff and nonsense its ALL about politics ALL the time and that applies to every politician from the city council, to the US Senate, to the office of the president regardless of what party is in power.I dislike them all equally. Hey, I'm a registered democrat so don't throw the republican crap at me "

 I Dont wrote on July 22, 2008 4:05 pm:
" care if Hagel is only a part of Obamas cabinet, I will vote for him because of Hagel. Bush and Cheny supporters just can't grasp the fact that the two of them have sold out this country. If China ever calls back its loans, the american economy as bad as it is now , is sunk. When these two losers are out of office, they should be tried for treason. Manslaughter would be a secondary charge. In my 65 years I have never seen the corruption in washington and white house like it is now. I include Nixon in this. I agree, Obama and Hagel don't have to make Bush look stupid, he's done a good job himself. This guy can't run a baseball team without bankruptsy, how could he run a country. "

 . wrote on July 22, 2008 4:40 pm:
" How many of you idiots are only interested in seeing your blog posted? Do you really have anything worthwhile to add? I challenge any one of you to post something intelligent. You think our leaders are lacking?... look at the voters. "

 Cant wait wrote on July 22, 2008 4:41 pm:
" For Hagel to be appointed a cabinet position no matter WHO wins the nomination.

Secretary of State Chuck Hagel
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel

I think they both have a nice ring to them. I guess we'll let Obama/McCain decide which sounds better. "

 Connie wrote on July 22, 2008 4:48 pm:
" Hagel continues to be a voice of reason with a rationale approach. His post partisan behavior exemplifies thinking beyond Bush - Cheney agendas. Scott Kleeb and Max Yashirin also seem to be allies of the global consciousness and post partisan approach. That is unlike those Bush-McCain corner, like Fortenberry and Johanns, who would not budge from strict party conventions. Iraq has been occupied too long and as a sovereign nation may begin to accept responsibilities if they are in charge of their destiny. The conditions will remain fragile whether or not our troops are there, but excessive presence may only postpone a chance to walk on their own. Afghanistan has been ignored too long,by Bush and McCain, they ignored duty to focus on a real fight against global terrorism.. "

 Hagel is doing his job wrote on July 22, 2008 5:07 pm:
" Hagel is doing his job and I'm glad Obama is taking an objective look at the situation on the ground in Iraq. I once supported Bush and voted for him, but I am really looking forward to the day he leaves office. I hope Obama has the wisdom to put Chuck Hagel in his Cabinet; we need more people like him. "

 Thomas Caldwell wrote on July 22, 2008 5:38 pm:
" Hagel is just the third idiot on the train make a trip to a war zone and become a specilaist. Wars must be fought to defeat they can never be fought to a peace agreement and last look at our history and Korea and Vietnam what great sucess tha was, win the war then make the peace then come home. do not back out and bring the war to us. Nebraskan in Texas tc "

 Mark wrote on July 22, 2008 7:42 pm:
" Got to love the spin some on the left put on Sen.’s flip-flop (Obama) and Sen. Used to be a republican.
The ignorant arrogance of of Sen. Flip Flop is beyond laughable at best, and truly troubling at worst.
How can someone with no military experience, someone who has never made a major decision, tell the experts in the US military he is right and they are wrong? How can this guy with a straight face tell anyone the surge did not work, and continues to state that false belief despite all evidence to the contrary? I guess Gen. Petraus doesn't know what he's talking about. Why would we want to put a time table out there when victory is within sight? Why quit before the finish line Sen. Flip Flop?
Obama just seems more and more like a college grad who's arrival on a new job is like, well I'm ready to be leader, and I know more than all of you with experience, so get in line and follow me. By the way, I reserve the right to flip flop as I go along because I don’t know any different.
Truly unbelievable people with any common sense don't see right through his hot air. "

 AlsoGary wrote on July 22, 2008 8:09 pm:
" Hey Chuck, why don't you just go back to being a millionaire businessman living off over charging the poor and getting sweetheart deals from government regulators? You were lying with your revisionist history of Vietnam (yes I was there too). You were wrong about the surge in Iraq and you are just plain embarrassing to any real Nebraskan. They're making fun of you on cable with the fawning you're doing over your buddy Barack. You voted with Bush more than any senator in D.C. What a phoney! "

 Gunnar wrote on July 22, 2008 8:11 pm:
" The DOOM team of Obama and Hagel. What an insult to our brave troops for this coward to show up with his media circus. "

 Hey Thomas wrote on July 22, 2008 8:17 pm:
" The problem is fighting wars that don't need to be fought, not blinders on, full speed ahead, win at any cost (and then there will be peace?). Until the US decides only to fight in "total wars", that is wars where the WHOLE of the countries resources are thrown into the mix, there will be wars that are not won. When the people of this country are willing to suspend the purchase of new car for 3-4 years, will accept food and gas rationing, and will accept the draft, we will truly know that we are fighting for something we all believe in.
Meanwhile, I trust Hagel to look at the situation more than our current president, whose own expertise with war is on how to avoid having to personally go and fight in one. "

 whatever wrote on July 22, 2008 9:42 pm:
" I doubt "Thomas" and some of the other folks out there critical of any movement toward peace could stomach total war. I agree with "Hey Thomas". No one other than the troops and their families have made any meaningful sacrifice in this "war". Nothing would please more than to have total mobilization and total war and rid the world of it's menaces once and for all, but this President, this Congress and these American people are unwilling to do what it takes. My folks and grandparents made more sacrifices in any given week during World War II than ANY poster here has made in the last 5 years or longer to make this country and world a better place. I supported this war intially as I thought we had a competant President and government and we were truly going to right the wrong Bush I inflicted on the Kurds when he sold them down the river. But I was seriously naive' and wrong. This war was nothing but a son avenging his fathers "errors", a war to "prove manhood" and a war to secure oil resources. Regardless of what happens we will never leave Iraq and are virtually forced at this point to occupy the oil fields of Iran. We have reactivated the 4th Fleet and will likely be making aggressive moves in South America in the not to distant future. It's very clear based on military planning and the almost frantic drive to find alternative sources of fuel that known reserves are rapidly dwindling. If that isn't the case then the other argument is that this country is desperately trying to avoid total economic collapse by securing oil resources of our "own" to stop the flow of our financial resources and other wealth out of this country that preclude the United States from meeting it's financial obligations. "

 ironic wrote on July 22, 2008 11:51 pm:
" Chuck says it is time to accept Iraq sovreinity. Great. Chuck, how about accepting the sovreinity of the US in sealing its borders? What was that oath that you took? But no, you want to give SS to all of the illegals.
Practice what you preach. "

 Craig wrote on July 23, 2008 1:30 am:
" I thought the Idea was to pick a VP that could help you carry his or her state. Without Hagel, McCain 61% Obama 39%. With Hagel, McCain 72% Obama 28%
in Nebraska "

 Hey Mark wrote on July 23, 2008 8:45 am:
" Why not? How arrogant was it that we had someone with no military experience who had made very few major decisions on his own, take us to an illegal war, in Middle East hornet's nest, with the help of his handpicked inept cabinet like Cheney and Rumsfeld, proceed to apparently run a war without a clue as to what would result. If the surge did work, it only proves how poorly planned this war was. Thanks for pointing that out to us, Mark. "

 mathme wrote on July 23, 2008 8:47 am:
" Senator Flip-Flop? You're talking about McCain, right? He's flip-flopped on almost everything even to the point of withdrawing support for his own bills that carry his name! He's a "straight talkin'" maverick who has a campaign staffed by lobbyists (and if you look at who they are and for whom they lobby his flip-flops begin to make a lot of sense).

Oh, remember the joke he told about being against the tax cuts for the super wealthy? Yeah, because now he thinks they're totally awesome and that the super wealthy need all of our money for some idiotic revision of Reaganomics.

He now opposes his own finance reform bill. That's pretty great. It takes a maverick to come up with a bill and then withdraw his support for it.

He can't make up his mind on abortion (he changes his mind to fit whichever audience he needs to talk to) nor can he make up his mind about the confederate flag.

He also can't decide where Iraq and Afghanistan are.

Those are just some of his flip flops. What do you have on Obama? That he said that he would have a sit down with McCain and if they could reach an agreement on campaign finance he'd take federal money? And then when McCain wouldn't talk to him and wouldn't reject 527s he used his own money given to him voluntarily? What are you, a socialist? You are for McCain's socialist campaign?

Or, wait, first Obama said 16 month timeline for withdrawing from Iraq and THEN he said by 2010? Yeah, that's a flipflop what with these 7 month years we have now. "

 QuestionMark wrote on July 23, 2008 9:27 am:
" Mark asks "How can someone with no military experience, someone who has never made a major decision, tell the experts in the US military he is right." Think year 2000 and 2004, think Bush Jr and your question is relevant - why would anybody have voted for him? Mark says "victory is within sight" but wants no timetable? Why, is it within sight or not? Victory is them "greeting us with open arms." How'd that work out for ya? How's that 'Mission Accomplished' working out for ya? Look who owns "flip-flop" - you do. "

 Nina wrote on July 23, 2008 11:18 am:
" Obviously I think these are wise words, because they match and expound upon the beliefs I've stated in previous posts on LJS. Even if our motives were sound for starting the Iraq mess (which they weren't; they were based on presidential lies we Americans foolishly trusted), there's a big difference between being there to help and being there after our welcome is over. What would we do as a family if a relative moved in as a short-term helper, then refused to leave and took over our household? I think you know the answer, and I think you see the correlation. "

 Democrats want us to loose wrote on July 23, 2008 12:36 pm:
" Hey Mark, the democrats don't want to win this war, they want the United States to loose. If we win, the democrats look really bad. If we loose, they say I told you so. It's really simple, and very disgusting! I guess words like, " One Nation under God" and," Indivisible" don't mean a damn anymore to many democrats. "

 Democrats wrote on July 23, 2008 3:44 pm:
" I don't think the Democrats want us to loose. Hey Democrats, do you really want us to Loose? I didn't thinks so, but please leave your God out of this. Maybe he wants us to loose? "

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