Bush Administration Asking U.S. Military to Do it All
It has been reported that the Department of Defense plans to take over responsibility from the State Department for providing assistance to Iraq's Defense and Interior ministries. In addition President Bush stated on Sunday that the Defense Department could become the lead agency in coordinating and leading the response to natural disasters.
WASHINGTON - Senator Jack Reed stated, The United States military is well run, disciplined and very effective at carrying out its mission, but it cannot become the Bush Administrations answer to all problems. If the State Department does not have the personnel and resources to provide assistance to the Iraq Interior ministry, what other Iraqi ministries are not receiving the assistance from the State Department that they need?During a Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing Thursday, June 23, 2005, Senator Reed questioned General John Abizaid, Commander, U.S. Central Command about the participation of State Department Personnel in Iraq:SENATOR JACK REED: General Abizaid, we're at a juncture in this effort that requires not only military forces, but complementary civilian forces -- State Department personnel, AID workers -- because we're in a phase where we have to inspire political engagement and also reconstruct the shattered infrastructure.Do we have sufficient ... civilian personnel throughout the country to do that? And I'm under the impression that State Department personnel are volunteers, and many are volunteering out of their expertise. Is that your impression?ABIZAID: Senator Reed, I don't know that I can comment specifically on their authorized strength versus what's out in the field. But I can say that this war must be fought with all of the agencies of the United States government fully engaged, with people that stay in the field long term, that are in the right place at the right time. And I believe that there are clear indications that we've got to do better in this.REED: So without putting words in your mouth, your impression is they are not fully engaged. And again, that goes to the overriding issue of how serious we are about winning this war, if a major component of our strategy, the civilian side, is manned by volunteers and is not fully engaged.ABIZAID: ...I think we need more of those types of dedicated professionals out in the field. And I want to make it very clear, as you know from the time that you traveled around with me, that when you find those people out there, they are magnificent. They are every bit as magnificent as our troops. We need to check to make sure we've got the right ones at the right place for the right amount of time.
