Hagel: Gains in Iraq Came at High Cost

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Omaha, Neb.
Posted: 1:09 PM Jul 24, 2008
Last Updated: 1:09 PM Jul 24, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: desk@kolnkgin.com

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U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel said gains made in Iraq are easily reversible if that nation's government can't take advantage and make political progress.

The Nebraska Republican, a harsh critic of President Bush's Iraq policy, accompanied Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on the trip.

Hagel said Thursday he saw tactical gains in Iraq but that they came at a high price.

Hagel said President Bush's decision last year to dispatch 30,000 more troops to Iraq has cost more than 1,000 American lives and billions of dollars.

Asked how Republican Senate colleagues reacted to his traveling with the presumed Democratic nominee, Hagel said he hadn't really discussed it with them and, "I didn't ask their permission."

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Posted by: lynnette Location: iowa on Jul 25, 2008 at 11:03 AM
on the other hand, maybe the problem is due to inadequate reporting by the press. The AP story was awfully sketchy - didn't list the author of the story, didn't say when and where Hagel answered questions, whether there were other reporters there, etc. So maybe I should mostly criticize the media. They are so simplistic! Any intelligent college political science student should be able to recognize all three Senators on the trip - but the TV-types don't seem to want the public to focus on anyone except their reporters -- see how each network showcases its news anchors and reporters, even more than reporting news. It looks like sweeps week! Also, I read a very disturbing story about the Washington, DC AP bureau - one of its top reporters, Fournier (sp?), is apparently a buddy-pal of Karl Rove, and has been slanting stories to favor McCain. AP is supposed to be neutral: news, not commentary.

Posted by: lynnette Location: iowa on Jul 25, 2008 at 10:45 AM
After everything I have written in praise of Hagel so far, I'm sure people will be surprised that I am now going to criticize him! He, Jack Reed, & Obama were on a proper Congressional delegation trip to the Middle East. The three Senators, as Senators, are equals. Despite the fact that the press was so focused on Obama, there was an important moment at the press conference in Jordan -- Obama was at the microphone and Reed and Hagel were on either side of him, and they sat and listened to his replies to the press questions. At one point, at least, when Obama was asked a question, he turned to Hagel and said (in effect) "do you want to comment on this?" And Hagel said (in effect): "No, you go ahead" (I say, in effect, because they weren't using microphones while talking with each other -also I must complain that the microphones were not good for the reporters' questions, either). Hagel should have accepted Obama's deference to him, and replied to questions. His views count too!

Posted by: Carolyn Location: Lincoln on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:00 PM
I think now is the time for Hagel to "shut his pie hole" Obvioulsy he has lost any respect for those represents. He needs to resign and fade away. To think at one time I thought he would make a decent President. Must be the advancing dementia.

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