No one has ever accused Fourth District Congressman Ike Skelton of being a liberal Democrat so when he levels criticism of the situation in Iraq even the most ardent supporter of the president should take note.
In an article in today's Springfield News-Leader by Gannett News Service reporter Pamela Brogan, Skelton, who is now Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, offered this assessment of the situation:
Skelton said a new strategy would have redefined the mission with a plan on how to accomplish it.
"Instead, the president has offered some adjustments to our current course, but these adjustments do not represent a radical departure from what we are doing today," he said. "We've increased our troop levels in Baghdad before and the violence only increased."
Skelton said the key to success in Iraq "does not lie with a military plan" but with "the political will and commitment of the Iraqi leadership and people."
"We need to understand how the United States will hold the Iraqis accountable by measuring their progress and what will be done if the Iraqi government fails to deliver on its promises."
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