McCain assails call to reduce U.S. combat forces in Iraq

Incoming Senate Armed Services ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz., on Thursday denounced a blue-ribbon panel's recommendation to bring down U.S. troop levels in Iraq, arguing that doing so could exacerbate the situation on the ground.

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, McCain, who favors increasing the number of troops in Iraq, argued there is a "disconnect" between what the long-awaited Iraq Study Group recommended in its report released Wednesday and realities in Iraq.

"There's only one thing worse than an overstressed Army and Marine Corps and that's a defeated Army and Marine Corps," McCain, one of the committee's most influential members and a likely presidential contender in 2008, told the study group's leaders. "We saw that in 1973. And I believe that this is a recipe that will lead to, sooner or later, our defeat in Iraq."

Former Secretary of State James Baker, Republican co-chairman of the study group, stressed that the report recommends increasing fivefold the U.S. forces involved in training and equipping Iraqi security forces as well as withdrawing most U.S. combat troops by early 2008. Baker added that information he has received has indicated the United States does not have readily available combat forces available to maintain heavy deployments to Iraq indefinitely.

McCain countered that his studies have indicated otherwise.

McCain, joined by other committee members, also pressed Baker and former Indiana Rep. Lee Hamilton, the study group's Democratic co-chairman, on their recommendation to begin a regional conference with Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria.

"I don't believe that a peace conference with people who are dedicated to your extinction has much short-term gain," McCain said. Other lawmakers applauded the idea of extending Iran an invitation at a conference, but doubted what would come of it.

"I believe that the United States is strong enough never to fear to sit down and talk to anyone," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn. But, he added, "I'm skeptical that it's realistic to think that Iran wants to help the United States succeed in Iraq."

Baker acknowledged that the recommendation is "not a panacea," but rather is part of their "comprehensive" Iraq strategy, which includes 78 other recommendations. "What do we lose by saying, 'We're getting all of Iraq's neighbors together, we want you to come?" Baker asked. "And if they say no, we show the world what they're all about."

Thursday's hearing marked the last of Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner's six-year term at the helm of the committee. He commended Baker and Hamilton for their work, but cautioned that it is ultimately up to the White House to implement most of the panel's recommendations.

"I've recommended that somehow Congress reinvolve itself, obviously not the whole Congress, but the leadership of the Congress," Warner said. "I would hope the president would consult with them before he finally promulgates to the public and to the world his views."