2006.08.29: August 29, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Fiji: Politics: Congress: Hartford Courant: Few members of Congress have been as supportive of President Bush's Iraq war policy as U.S. Rep. Chris Shays

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Fiji: Special Report: Former Congressman Chris Shays: RPCV Congressman Chris Shays: Newest Stories: 2006.08.31: August 31, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Fiji: Politics: Congress: New York Times: Congessman Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq Timetable : 2006.08.29: August 29, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Fiji: Politics: Congress: Hartford Courant: Chris Shays Joins Republican Shift On Iraq : 2006.08.29: August 29, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Fiji: Politics: Congress: Hartford Courant: Few members of Congress have been as supportive of President Bush's Iraq war policy as U.S. Rep. Chris Shays

By Admin1 (admin) (ppp-70-251-54-81.dsl.okcyok.swbell.net - 70.251.54.81) on Saturday, September 02, 2006 - 4:00 pm: Edit Post

Few members of Congress have been as supportive of President Bush's Iraq war policy as U.S. Rep. Chris Shays

Few members of Congress have been as supportive of President Bush's Iraq war policy as U.S. Rep. Chris Shays

That's why his suggestion for a timeline for withdrawal of U.S. forces, coming last week on the way home after his 14th trip to Iraq, was such a bombshell and why for some it has called his credibility into question. The congressman said a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops might force Iraqis to more quickly establish their own security and put an end to sectarian violence. Congressman Chris Shays of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji in the 1960's.

Few members of Congress have been as supportive of President Bush's Iraq war policy as U.S. Rep. Chris Shays

Political Shuffle By Mr. Shays?

August 29, 2006

Caption: Congressman Chris Shays visiting a children's center on the West Bank in 2003. Chris Shays has made 14 trips to Iraq and was the first Congressman to enter the country after the war - against the wishes of the Department of Defense.

Few members of Congress have been as supportive of President Bush's Iraq war policy as U.S. Rep. Chris Shays of Bridgeport. He has been on board with the invasion of Iraq and the toppling of dictator Saddam Hussein from day one. Through the course of 13 visits to Iraq during the past three years, the 4th District Republican has been mostly upbeat about the war's progress.

That's why his suggestion for a timeline for withdrawal of U.S. forces, coming last week on the way home after his 14th trip to Iraq, was such a bombshell and why for some it has called his credibility into question.
Mr. Shays is in a tough fight for re-election after 20 years in Congress and his dogged defense of the U.S. role in an unpopular war is one reason he's thought to be in trouble. It would be out of character for him to shift his views to suit the prevailing political climate. We hope that's not the case.

The congressman said a timeline for withdrawing U.S. troops might force Iraqis to more quickly establish their own security and put an end to sectarian violence. Indeed, it might.

"The progress simply stopped," Mr. Shays said last week. "The Iraqis lack the political will to be on a time frame to get this done. They want to act in terms of years and we need them to act in terms of months."

He said he was discouraged by conditions he saw in Iraq on a previous visit six weeks ago, but thought it too early to speak out.

Still, it isn't exactly clear what Mr. Shays now favors. He says he's for a timetable for withdrawal, but that the timetable cannot be arbitrary. That poses a question: Can an "iffy" timetable force Iraq's government to move any faster?

Mr. Shays believes that a premature withdrawal would lead to "all-out civil war, fuel prices off the scale" and an "Islamist terrorist" victory.

He says he will lead hearings next month that will help establish a realistic timetable for drawing down American troops. But, he cautions, Congress may not be able to move before the midterm congressional elections in November. It would be sad if Mr. Shays' shift in outlook were motivated simply by pre-election jitters.

We agree with Mr. Shays - and with Sen. Joe Lieberman - that a premature U.S. withdrawal could have disastrous consequences. But Washington must create an exit strategy or a timetable or a withdrawal plan, whatever you want to call it.

The United States can't afford an unlimited, bottomless commitment. The Iraqi government must be pushed harder to stand on its own and provide the security that is needed.

One thing is for certain. If the frequent visitor to Iraq and long-time supporter of our mission there is discouraged about conditions in that war-ravaged nation, they must truly be bad.






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Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq Timetable Date: September 2 2006 No: 971 Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq Timetable
In a policy shift, RPCV Congressman Chris Shays, long a staunch advocate of the Bush administration's position in Iraq, is now proposing a timetable for a withdrawal of American troops. How Mr. Shays came to this change of heart is, he says, a matter of a newfound substantive belief that Iraqis need to be prodded into taking greater control of their own destiny under the country’s newly formed government. As Chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security, he plans to draft a timetable for a phased withdrawal and then push for its adoption. A conscientious objector during the Vietnam War who said that if drafted he would not serve, Chris Shays has made 14 trips to Iraq and was the first Congressman to enter the country after the war - against the wishes of the Department of Defense.

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The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory or leave a message on our Bulletin Board. New: Sign up to receive our free Monthly Magazine by email, research the History of the Peace Corps, or sign up for a daily news summary of Peace Corps stories. FAQ: Visit our FAQ for more information about PCOL.

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Story Source: Hartford Courant

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Fiji; Politics; Congress

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