During a hearing on cooperation between the Department of State and the Defense Department, House Armed Services ranking member Duncan Hunter criticized the foreign service. (0:53)
This week’s escalation of violence in Iraq and the attacks on the Green Zone, American soldiers, yet again, are caught up in the middle of a civil war. As President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain inform the public about the progress of Iraq, Iraq experts tell all at a conference call today.
The speakers were Iraq War Veteran and Chairman and co-founder of VoteVets.org, Jon Soltz, senior fellow at the Center for Action Fund, Brian Katulis, from Democracy Corps Jim Gerstein and Karin Meredith whose son was killed in Iraq in 2004, while serving his country.
Brian Katulis started off by saying that much of the things happening in Iraq the past year were temporary; however the division between the Shiite groups was and still is very sharp. During the summer, Iraqis experienced a vast amount of violence in the Southern part of the country, where 4 politicians were killed and the violence reached its breaking point in Karbala, where 50 Iraqis were killed. During the fall season, the armed confrontations declined, due to the ceasefire ordered by the Prime Minister Maliki. However, some low level clashes were seen during winter and spring. Katulis continues by saying that this week’s attacks were the worst seen this year.
Jon Soltz on the other hand urges the president to come forward and confess that this war was a mistake and a big failure. He continues by saying that this cover was a “domestic political plan.”
The third speaker, Jim Gerstein, talked about how the public is sure about their stands on the Iraq War and how eager the voters are to move on from the current administration and its war policies. He also mentioned that electing Senator McCain will no way be a change in foreign diplomacy.
Lastly, Karen Meredith talked about her fallen son, and highlighted the fact that noting has changed since 2004 and the clashes between different Shiites groups have become more violent.
