2006.09.21: September 21, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Fiji: Politics: Congress: Iraq: Greenwich Post: Chris Shays says: “We cannot afford to leave Iraq until we see the Iraqis capable of defending themselves"
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 :
2006.09.21: September 21, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Fiji: Politics: Congress: Iraq: Greenwich Post: Chris Shays says: “We cannot afford to leave Iraq until we see the Iraqis capable of defending themselves"
Chris Shays says: “We cannot afford to leave Iraq until we see the Iraqis capable of defending themselves"
While advocating for a timetable be set for Iraqi troops to replace United States personnel, Mr. Shays stressed the danger in leaving too early, especially after the damage the war had done to Iraq’s infrastructure and security forces. He said the two were not conflicting views. “We cannot afford to leave Iraq until we see the Iraqis capable of defending themselves,” Mr. Shays said. “It would be immoral for this country to leave before the Iraqis have the capability to protect themselves, but it would be wrong for our troops to stay longer than we have to. My view is as heartfelt as I’ve ever felt about anything... I’m going to be very outspoken that it needs to happen.”
Chris Shays says: “We cannot afford to leave Iraq until we see the Iraqis capable of defending themselves"
Political picnic: Shays shares thoughts on Iraq war at clambake
By Ken Borsuk, Staff Reporter
[Excerpt]
The Cos Cob Republican Club Clambake marked its 75th year as it had in the past, with lobster, steak and political discussion. But while the atmosphere was fun the topics were of the utmost seriousness.
Congressman Christopher Shays implored gathered Republicans to listen to him and understand what he is fighting for. Mr. Shays, locked in a tight re-election battle with Democratic opponent Diane Farrell, delivered a speech that frequently blamed the media for failing to get his message across and not having a real debate about terrorism, and sought to clarify his position on the future of the war in Iraq.
While advocating for a timetable be set for Iraqi troops to replace United States personnel, Mr. Shays stressed the danger in leaving too early, especially after the damage the war had done to Iraq’s infrastructure and security forces. He said the two were not conflicting views.
“We cannot afford to leave Iraq until we see the Iraqis capable of defending themselves,” Mr. Shays said. “It would be immoral for this country to leave before the Iraqis have the capability to protect themselves, but it would be wrong for our troops to stay longer than we have to. My view is as heartfelt as I’ve ever felt about anything... I’m going to be very outspoken that it needs to happen.”
Mr. Shays said it was his conviction that setting a timeline was the only way to get Iraqis to move forward. He said the Iraqis had to do more of the “heavy lifting” he felt they had done in 2005; since they hadn’t this year it had been “very, very costly.”
In terms of the timeline, Mr. Shays said he did not have specific numbers in mind and that Congress was waiting on the Bush administration to give a number it believed was the ultimate number of security forces in Iraq. Mr. Shays said once he had that number, he had every right to expect that adding well trained and equipped Iraqi forces would allow the U.S. number to be drawn down accordingly.
Despite calls from Mr. Shays and other Republicans, the administration has, so far, not given any indication for a change of strategy beyond staying the current course.
“I don’t think we succeed unless we do, so I hope they’re willing to set some timelines,” Mr. Shays said.
Mr. Shays said his call for a timeline came after his 14th trip to Iraq where he saw no positive changes after the 13th trip. He rejected the idea that his decision was “an election year conversion.” Ms. Farrell, who was against the war, has accused him of making a purely political decision.
“I’m going to continue to have honest dialogue and I just have to go where it goes,” Mr. Shays said. “If people think candor is causing confusion, then I’m just going to continue to be candid.”
Mr. Shays expressed a desire to discuss issues other than Iraq, but accepted his vote in favor of the war would be debated throughout the campaign. He said he wrestled with his decision every day and admitted it could cost him his job.
“This would not be a close election if it wasn’t for the war in Iraq,” Mr. Shays said.
When this story was posted in September 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments. |
| He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor. |
| 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. |
| Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process. |
| The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace. |
| PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come. |
| History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help. |
Read the stories and leave your comments.
Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.
Story Source: Greenwich Post
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Fiji; Politics; Congress; Iraq
PCOL34533
97