Washington, Feb 11: A senior Democratic lawmaker
said on Sunday that Congress may be looking at ways to cut funding for
the Iraqi war efforts and disputed the idea that Iraq will
turn into a haven for terrorists if the US troops are
withdrawn from that country.
"... It can't be any worse than it is today. And it is
becoming a haven in many ways. We need a change in direction.
You're not going to get a change in strategy until we decide
that this program has to change," Senator Christopher Dodd
said in a talk show.
"And I believe that's only going to come when Congress
makes that decision. And frankly, I think there's a greater
opportunity for us to get some stability in Iraq and stability
in the region, start to draw people back into the process
internationally, than are presently willing to engage because
of our presence there" he added.
"Eighty percent of the Iraqi people think we're the cause
for the chaos in the country. Sixty percent believe it's
appropriate to shoot and kill Americans who are there. How do
you sustain a policy when the very people we're trying to help
are opposed to our being there? " the Connecticut Democrat, in
the fray for 2008 presidential election, said, adding the law
makers will be inclined to attach amendments to spending bills
to force a change in direction of the Iraq policy.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, February 11, 2007, 00:00