Chuck Hagel: Quit Talking About The Surge, Focus On War's Future

OMAHA, Neb. — Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, fresh from an Iraq trip with Democrat Barack Obama, said the presidential candidates should focus on the war's future and stop arguing over the success of last year's troop surge.

Hagel mentioned both candidates, but his comments seemed directed at Republican John McCain. McCain, while Obama traveled the Middle East, attacked Obama for opposing the military escalation last year that increased security in Iraq.

"Quit talking about, 'Did the surge work or not work,' or, 'Did you vote for this or support this,'" Hagel said Thursday on a conference call with reporters.

"Get out of that. We're done with that. How are we going to project forward?" the Nebraska senator said. "What are we going to do for the next four years to protect the interest of America and our allies and restructure a new order in the world. ... That's what America needs to hear from these two candidates. And that's where I am."

Hagel, too, opposed the troop increase strategy, though he acknowledged Thursday it brought about positive changes. "When you flood the zone with superior American military firepower, and you put 30,000 of the world's best troops in a country, there's going to be a result there," Hagel said.

Whether the surge worked, though, can't be measured, Hagel said, arguing the small gains came at a high price. He said President Bush's decision last year to dispatch an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq has cost more than 1,000 American lives and billions of dollars.

Though Hagel is a Republican, his name has been floated as a potential vice presidential running mate for Obama. Like McCain, he is a Vietnam war veteran, but Hagel is a fierce critic of the war in Iraq. He has said he would consider running with Obama on the Democratic ticket but that he doesn't expect to be asked. He is not running for reelection.

Hagel joined Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island in traveling with Obama to the Middle East. Reed said the trip was productive. "It wasn't just a photo op and social chit chat," Reed said in a telephone interview.

Reed said the group pressed Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to have the Iraqi government do more.

"Unless the government of Iraq can start delivering _ delivering jobs, delivering funds, performing _ then the gains that have been made will be quickly erased," Reed said. "I think that is a point that we all stressed, particularly Senator Obama, with the prime minister."

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Associated Press Writer Andrew Miga in Washington contributed to this report.

(This version CORRECTS that Hagel has said in the past, not Thursday, he would run.)

Comments

[hobdy29]

":If the surge was a "success as McCain says, then he must "whole heartedly apologize" and personally console the families of every American Soldier and families of every Iraqi Citizen for "every death after this thing has ended. "Plainly put "If you are taking credit for "your surge" I hold you accountable for every life lost in Iraq henceforth......

[jdenham]

Most Republicans keep finding reason to not win the war. Hagel and Luger are the few voices in the Wilderness asking what next. Back In 2003 when the generals were telling the Congress and the Administration they need overwhelming force to police Iraq they were retired. Four long years later they send more troops to Quell violence after the ethnic cleansing is over.
The Republicans need to move beyond the Surge and make a plan to get our troops out of Iraq. One success in 5 years is not a victory. Odds are the Iraqis would stop killing each other after they have been ethnicly cleansed. Unfortunately the Republicans have no plan.

[mesmerize]

The surge doesn't make Obama or Hagel look stupid, It makes McCain and his camp look desperate to have the Obama camp validate McCain. If Obama and his camp came out and said " The surge worked but it had nothing to do with McCain it had to do with this and that, the mcCain camp would find something wrong with that statement. Why are republicans looking for Obama to lift McCain out of his rut of a campaign? They are the ones with all of this so-called experience.

[Shake-A-Spear]

After the surge -- WHAT? When does the surge end? If it's been the success McCain claims it's been how long must we continue its "success?" Wasn't its purpose to aid the Maliki government to take hold? Has that happened? Is it likely to happen -- and when? This whole thing seems like a well-camouflaged quagmire. And as far as the rhetoric proves, despite all the sophistry there are no answers. As lomg as we continue to depend on "foregin oil" as we will for years to come, we'll necessarily be committed to a presence in Iraq -- more or less than at "surge" level. This is the reality that neither McCain nor Obama dare reflect. We'll be cleaning up Bush's poop for years to come regardless of the outcome of the Nov. election..

[justobserve]

But what else can McCain talk about?

[BinBaldwin]

Of course he wants to stop talking about the Surge , It makes him look Stupid

[mesmerize]

No it makes McCain and his camp look desperate to be validated by Senator obama. The only way they will be satisfied about the surge is if Obama came out and said the surge worked because of McCain. If Obama or Hagel came out and said " The surge worked but not because of McCain but because of this and that the McCain camp would find something wrong with that statement.

[Quinty]

McCain's emphasis is a sly rhetorical trick. He was being nocked about by being associated with Bush not too long ago and with his "surge" argument he can exert his independence. And even attack the Blush administration for its incompetence in prosecuting the war. His advisors have sharpened his skills.

For those of us who have always opposed the war the surge itself has been somewhat irrelevant. That Obama opposed the war while McCain whole heartedly whooped it up is what's truly relevant here. That Obama sees the war as a lingering folly costing billions and many more lives while McCain supports it is the real issue. But by putting his emphasis on the surge McCain can claim "victory" is near. and many voters will eat that argument up.

Thus McCain can deflect the focus on the basic issues of the war while concentrating on the surge. Obama hasn't sufficiently responded yet. And should focus on the real issues once again. If anything he has the ability to clarify such rhetorical distractions with his own simple clarity. Though Obama's recent focus on Afghanistan as requiring a new "surge" is troubling. With this policy will we merely get into another murderous and stupid quagmire?

[teccoord]

1. A result of the constant “urging” by McCain … Barack travels the world …
a. Result … McCain and sour grapes …. It was a frigging success for Barack and the McCain campaign goes sour grapes ….

2. The surge …. Yes it works … or does it … maybe …
a. Result … I believe the combination of the Iraqi People and the Iraqi military and our military along with the constant threat by the democratic party and candidates that we want to end the War .. worked in combination for a successful battle of the people of Iraq to take back their country …. Hopefully this will continue regardless of a possible surge by the enemy of Iraq …
3. The balance of the two campaigns ….
a. John’s campaign is very weak … this man has been in politics for decades … the fact that Barack is leading or tied is amazing and you talking heads know that as fact …
The fact that McCains campaign is trying to make him the come from behind kid is ridiculous ... Barack never was known by the world let alone the citizens of the good old USA until a year or two ago …. I think the come from behind kid is really Barack … talk about a leader .. he surrounded himself with winners … not whiners …. He created a budget and a strategy to win …. This country has a Knew leader and a winner

[Spooled]

I need Chuck Hagel on Obama's ticket to restore my trust in Obama.. With Hagel on the team, I will know for certain that Obama is for real.. Then I will cast my vote for him.

Its Chuck Hagel or bust for me.. He's the only one of the prospective VP's , who has shown that he knows the Constitution of this Country still exist, and is a viable document..

Its got to be Chuck Hagel.. This is why Chuck was on the World Tour with him..

Obama is no fool. He knows Chuck Hagel is the only solution to restore both Democratic and Republican Parties.

[max]

just vote for McCain, your going to find a reason to do it anyway..

[research]

The Surge is a FAILURE

IRAQI deaths went way up during the surge.

IRAQI deaths are higher then before the surge.

Violence as defined by Iraqi Deaths IS UP!

see what IRAQIs think of the Surge:

http://www.antiwar.com/ips/fadhily.php?articleid=12408

[JAMES GORMAN]

HAGEL is right--the surge is history==time to move on not as in dot.org--the Surge was not what McC
says tho--it was a strategy, too clever for Busy, to shut-down Muktada's army that was causing all the trouble wih the Sunni's/once Mr M backed of under pressure from Malichi government, then the surge
of our troops essentially became police to kee[ sunni's in line but without violating sacred sites or dragging in religious retaliation. Of course it worked---BUT
Malichi the President heads a Shiite government--Iraq is a Shiite country and Iran will back that
element of Shiite religion/ the crucial thing is how the government will be able to function with the
Sunni's as Americans leave---Iraq could turn into a colony of Iran with the Sunni's in constant "civil"
war. Meanwhile, who gets the oil?? Three guesses. As long as we are there, we control oil production
for the world and
Europe--and that all decides what we pay. There is a Trillion Dollar "Embassy-Fortress" for America
in Bahdad--it is there to stay000and we are there to stay as our owners have decided. McCain is
attempting to make that seem "anti terrorist" strategy--but there aint no Terrorists except in Pakistan,,
Where Osama is and Obama aint. McC

[530Rose]

The surge worked only insofar as it put a "cop" on every corner. Of course, while we are there en masse it will look like it was a success. Try it in any inner city setting. The real truth about the surge will come out when the levels of violence return to baseline when our "cops" leave. I think McCain et al should withhold judgment until it can be determined if the area is more stable after we leave. Bush created havoc in that country when he invaded. He, Cheney, and every congress person that voted to give him that power should be held accountable by impeachment or by the voters. We should be careful not to re-elect people who were so easily fooled. The only reasonable and productive thing we can do is get out now and, while we are at it, we should rethink our need to go destroy Afghanistan and Pakistan in the same way. The people who are harmed the most are the citizens, who really had nothing to do with anything. If Israel wants to go have a fight with Iran, we should make it clear that they are ON THEIR OWN!

[rjcrane]

It seems that all that is left in McCain's playbook is to blame the "so called liberal media" and claim Obama was wrong about the surge. I agree with Hagel that the surge sacrificed too many for very few positive results. Both he and Obama were correct to oppose the surge strategy but let's not forget that Hagel was infantry and McCain never took part in any on the ground battles in Vietnam. McCain experiences in the military were limited and not very noteworthy or distinguished.

RJ Crane,, topplebush.com

[zakwouldhave]

Hagel is proof a Republican can understand foreign policy...hard to find any other examples.

[kvet]

Mccain Complained about looking at the Past, ( His Vote/ Bad Judgement to go To War ).

Now Hes Stuck on the Past and the Surge ?....

I agree with Hagel completely !

Cut the Crap,,,,,,and Start talking about the Future and where we go from here.....

Instead of looking back,,,,,Time to look forward......

[danoj]

Stop talking about the surge soon as the O stops talking about him being against the invasion in 2002. The real question is what happens in 2010 when we leave. If the Iraq goes to hell in a handbasket what will Obama do? Reinvade? How many more deaths is that going to cause rather than us just staying until there army can handle thing and there government reconciles some things.

[530Rose]

He probably won't be a Republican long. They aren't as tolerant as Dem's with people who think independently of the party.

[mistlesuede]

Senator Hagel makes a lot of sense here. Why is he retiring from the Senate? Perhaps he's had enough of ALL of the bull.

[MiddleRoadLiberal]

Is he retiring? I just thought his office isn't up for reelection.

[arcanepsyche]

I believe you're right.