Abercrombie: "Temporary surge in U.S. troops in Iraq would be George Bush's Charge of the Light Brigade"

"Their's not to reason why, their's but to do and die: Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred"

The Charge of the Light Brigade
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie said any plans to increase troop strength in Iraq, particularly in Baghdad, would be the latest in a long series of tragic blunders and misjudgments by the Bush Administration.  He compared such a move to the fabled ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ during the Crimean War in 1854.  Lacking accurate military intelligence or a clear mission, 600 British cavalrymen charged into massed Russian infantry and artillery fire.  Nearly 250 were killed or wounded. 

“I cannot support a reckless gamble with the lives of more Americans by this Administration to try to salvage a completely flawed strategy,” said Abercrombie.  “This is a political decision, not military strategy.  There is simply no reasonable expectation that an additional 15,000 to 20,000 U.S. troops in Baghdad is going to suddenly and miraculously stop Iraqis from killing Iraqis.  In fact, there is a great deal of evidence and judgment to the contrary.”

1. CENTCOM Commander Gen. John Abizaid has testified that more U.S. troops are not the answer.
   
2. Iraq ground forces commander Gen. George Casey has said that more U.S. troops in Baghdad could further inflame the violence rather than tamping it down.
   
3. The mission of current U.S. forces in Baghdad - trying to prevent Shiites from killing Sunnis and Sunnis from killing Shiites - is unclear.  Additional forces will not make anything more clear.
   
4. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar has questioned sending in more combat troops.  "No-one can tell us who they're supposed to combat," he said.
   
5. The President is reportedly considering a 'temporary surge' of U.S. troops.  Even if they were somehow successful in bringing the violence under control, what happens when they leave?
   
6. One of the largest obstacles to ending the sectarian violence is the Iraqi government itself.  The Prime Minister has not made a decision to disarm the various Shiite militias that are part of his constituency. 

“And, if the President chooses to ignore all this expertise and logic, he cannot ignore the November election,” Abercrombie said. “The American people made an unmistakable statement about the war in Iraq and our role in it.  But, the President has tried to interpret the election as a call for the success of his policy.  He is not interpreting the clear meaning of the results; he is dismissing them.

"The slaughter of the British Light Brigade at Balaclava demonstrated what can happen to gallant soldiers sent on a tragically futile mission.  We cannot allow a 21st Century version of that folly to proceed.

I intend to fully explore the President's 'new way forward in Iraq' in hearings before the Armed Services Committee and the Air-Land Subcommittee."

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