The U.S. Senate is considering a resolution today (Tuesday) that urges President Bush to begin pulling troops out of Iraq by year’s end. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he will -not- support the resolution, saying it would only lend encouragement to the insurgents and defeat our purpose for being in Iraq in the first place.
Grassley says “If they know the United States’ troops will not be supporting the Iraqi troops at a certain date, at the end of this year or any specific date, all they have to do is reserve, hold their resources and their competition in reserve and then they’ll have free reign and you’ll have civil war in Iraq.”
Some Republicans say the so-called “cut and run” strategy would threaten national security, but Grassley says he wouldn’t call it “cut and run” as he understands the frustration of those who want the U.S. out of Iraq. Still, he says no timeline can be given for a withdrawal.
Grassley, a Republican, says “The best way to win a war is to keep your opposition off guard, not know what your plans are, and the instrument of surprise is the best way to win. It’s just the opposite when you say that you’re going to pull out.” He says if a date of December 31st of 2006 were set in stone for the U.S. to leave Iraq, the insurgents would only have to hold out until then before launching an offensive.
Grassley says “You could imagine if we said we were going to win World War Two in Europe by May 1st of 1944, let’s say, and if we didn’t we were going to pull out. Why heavens, Hitler would still be in control of all of continental Europe and who knows, he may’ve been in England by now.” Grassley says it makes no sense to send your military plans to your enemy in advance.