Bush pushes troop surge

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By The Los Angeles Times | Tuesday, January 09, 2007 | 1 comment(s)

WASHINGTON — President Bush began a weeklong hard sell of his new Iraq policy Monday, meeting with groups of senators at the White House in an effort to convince them that the best way to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq is to send more, at least for a while.

Some said the president accomplished that goal; others said he did not.

“Iraq is the central front in the global war against radical Islamic terrorism. If we abandon that nation today, we risk the very same situation that gave rise to the Taliban in Afghanistan and one that

created a safe harbor for

terrorists like al-Qaida to plan attacks against our people,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who attended one meeting.

“I’m not for the surge,” said Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., who attended another. “Does

political process beget security, or does security beget political process? I think he understands that he’s betting his presidency, his place in history, on this coming out well.”

Bush did not detail the proposal he will lay out in his Wednesday speech to the nation, according to senators. But Smith said the president appeared to be planning to send 20,000 additional troops to Iraq, primarily to stop sectarian violence and foster a better climate for political reconciliation.

“It was clear to me that a decision was made for a surge of 20,000 additional troops,” said Smith, who also serves on the Armed Services Committee. “He did not affirm that that would be the number, but he said roughly ... that amount. I understood it as a hypothetical.”

The outcome of November’s midterm election — in which public dismay with the war led to large Republican losses — has put the administration under increasing pressure to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq. That pressure was heightened by the report of the Iraq Study Group, also known as the Baker-Hamilton commission, which called for the troops to start returning by 2008.

Instead, military leaders and the White House want a troop increase, which they say will turn the tide against the insurgency. Critics deride the “surge,” as it is known in Washington, as an escalation that will lead to more American deaths.

In his meetings Monday, Bush made his case for the surge, arguing that it was more likely than previous plans to work because it was drafted by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his government.

In particular, al-Maliki was to pledge a specific number of Iraqi troops, reduce factionalism in his own forces and stop shielding key Shiite militia leaders.

The troop increase “is based on the president’s belief that the political processes have been overtaken by sectarian violence, and sectarian violence needs to be quelled so political processes can be restored,” Smith said. “It is his faith in Prime Minister al-Maliki that leads him to tack into the winds of American public opinion.”

Smith is one of a number of moderate Republicans who are skeptical of the president’s plan. Most Democrats are opposed. Bush is expected to meet with more members of Congress today.

The White House said the president’s speech would be broadcast at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The next day, Bush plans to fly to Fort Benning, Ga., the home of Army infantry, to visit with soldiers.