{"id":2216,"date":"2007-09-10T17:06:00","date_gmt":"2007-09-10T23:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/09\/domenici-encouraged-guv-saddened-by-iraq-report\/"},"modified":"2007-09-10T17:06:00","modified_gmt":"2007-09-10T23:06:00","slug":"domenici-encouraged-guv-saddened-by-iraq-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/09\/domenici-encouraged-guv-saddened-by-iraq-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Domenici encouraged, guv saddened by Iraq report"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Though it isn\u2019t the timeline he\u2019s called for, U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici<\/a>, R-N.M., said today he was encouraged by plans revealed by the top U.S.<\/st1:country-region> general in Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> to bring home 30,000 troops by next summer. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Gen. David Petraeus<\/a> outlined the plan today before a House committee, and is scheduled to do the same Tuesday in the Senate. He said the cut of 30,000 soldiers would begin with a 2,000-member Marine unit returning home this month without replacement, the Associated Press<\/a> is reporting. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Petraeus also recommended further reductions of combat forces in Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, but suggested waiting until March 2008 to decide on a timetable.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Domenici announced in July that he was cosponsoring legislation calling for a goal of moving combat troops out of Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> by March 2008. That was a major shift for Domenici, who had previously backed President Bush\u2019s controversial troop surge and opposed a timetable for withdrawal.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Many GOP senators said at the time they were waiting for today\u2019s report, but Domenici said he could not wait because it had become clear to him that the Iraqi government was not meeting benchmarks that were to accompany the surge.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The cuts Petraeus outlined today will return troop levels in Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> by next summer to those in place before the president ordered the surge last winter. That\u2019s a pace far slower than what Domenici has endorsed. Still, the senator said in a news release that the planned reduction is good news.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI look forward to more carefully studying the report and recommendations being made by General Petraeus,\u201d Domenici said. \u201c… General Petraeus\u2019 testimony in the House has highlighted the tremendous efforts of our troops to bring security to Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> and to quell the threats posed by Al-Qaeda and sectarian militia. The surge seems to me to be working on the security front.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Domenici said he also shares frustrations expressed today by Ryan Crocker<\/a>, the U.S.<\/st1:country-region> ambassador to Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, \u201cabout the slow pace of progress by the Iraqi government to achieve national reconciliation. The lack of progress is unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Gov. Bill Richardson<\/a>, meanwhile, blasted Petraeus\u2019 recommendation in a news release sent out by his presidential campaign.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI am saddened, but not surprised, by the recommendations of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker on Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>,\u201d he said. \u201cI do not question the integrity or competence of these gentlemen, but the strategy George Bush and Dick Cheney have asked them to execute has failed. The course General Petraeus has recommended we take \u2013 more of the same \u2013 is unacceptable, irresponsible and dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Richardson<\/st1:city> wants the immediate withdrawal of all American soldiers from Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Pearce and Domenici defend Petraeus<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Meanwhile, the liberal group MoveOn.org<\/a> ran a full-page ad<\/a> today in the New York Times<\/a> calling Petraeus \u201cGeneral Betray Us\u201d and accusing him of \u201ccooking the books for the White House.\u201d That drew sharp criticism from U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce<\/a>, R-N.M., and Domenici.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Pearce called on Democratic congressional leaders to \u201cdenounce the defamatory MoveOn.org ad.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the strongest possible terms, I urge my colleagues to denounce this despicable attack on one of America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>\u2019s most decorated military commanders and greatest patriots,\u201d he said. \u201cThe advertisement, which equates General David Patraeus to a traitor and a liar, is a disgraceful and shameful assault one of our most honorable soldiers.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Domenici signed a letter to Democrat leaders stating that the ad \u201cis distasteful and frankly, below the level of respect that America<\/st1:country-region>\u2019s commanding general in Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> has earned. No matter whether any senator supports or opposes the war in Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, we should all voice recognition and appreciation of General Petraeus\u2019 long and distinguished record of service to our country.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cMoveOn.org\u2019s preemptive strike on General Petraeus in today\u2019s New York Times is reprehensible. General Petraeus has served this country with integrity and honor for nearly 35 years,\u201d Domenici said. \u201cHe deserves our respect and gratitude, not baseless, personal attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Pearce stated that, \u201cat this pivotal moment for our nation and the future of Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>, we should be working toward solutions and not attacking our military commanders and the men and women fighting to protect us.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Though it isn\u2019t the timeline he\u2019s called for, U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said today he was encouraged by plans revealed by the top U.S. general in Iraq to bring home 30,000 troops by next summer. Gen. David Petraeus outlined the plan today before a House committee, and is scheduled to do the same Tuesday […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2216"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2216\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}