/D8D327F221FCC481852570AB001405B9/$File/4A.jpg)
Michael Babin • THE SETONIAN
Rep. Robert Andrews spoke to students about the war in Iraq on Tuesday in the Diplomacy Room in McQuaidHall. | Congressman Robert Andrews spoke to diplomacy students about a series of miscalculations and missed opportunities in Iraq Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the Diplomacy Room in McQuaid Hall.
Andrews said that according to President George W. Bush, Iraqis are in the street tearing down the statue of Saddam Hussein. This symbolizes the fall of Saddam’s government.
He disagrees.
Andrews illustrates a starkly different image. This image takes place in the same location, where a convoy of cars and trucks get past security and detonate Palestine Hotel.
“This image dramatically illustrates failing U.S. policy,” he said.
Andrews said the U.S. government focuses on a recent achievement- the constitution being confirmed by a two-thirds vote under threat of death. Roberts acknowledges this achievement but said he does not believe this should be any consolation to the U.S. death count, which has reached 2,000.
Throughout all of the achievements made in Iraq, such as the first election and the recent confirmation of the constitution, “one thing that has remained the same day in and day out is two Americans lose their lives,” he said.
He said we should address the issue as something we can all work toward as a team and not as a people of different political opinions.
“Congressman Andrews went beyond the blame game to chart out some concrete ideas, which would maintain American security interests, and also at the same time, by making the Iraqi security forces through proper training take on the duties of combating the resistance,” Ambassador S. Azmat Hassan, senior faculty associate, said.
“What is at risk is 9/11,” he said.
Instead of blaming Sept. 11 on Iraq, which had no connection, he said we should use it as a lesson to not permit nations to attack in the first place. He saidthis is why changes need to be made in Iraqi policy.
Andrews said the main goal of the United States should be to get out of Iraq while making sure that in doing so, the country is not left vulnerable to attack.
“I agree that it would be a disaster to pull out now, yet our tactics need to change,” said Rebecca Cassidy, a freshman international relations student.
According to Andrews, there are 25-million people in Iraq with 300,000 security forces and 25,000 insurgents, yet there is an incident every day because the quality of intelligence is so bad.
Andrews said no matter what, families will not sacrifice their sons or daughters to help with intelligence.
“Security must come first,” he said.
Andrews said there are about 60,000 trained soldiers ready right now out of an estimated 300,000 that will be needed before the U.S. leaves.
Andrews said it is not too late to ask for the U.S. to ask for help.
“It requires good diplomacy and humility,” he said.
Cassidy agreed.
“It is essential we reach out to our international neighbors for support,” she said.
Whitehead School of Diplomacy Interim Dean Paul Holmes said this is proof that more is needed.
“Clearly we need to step up to multilateral diplomacy,” he said.
According to Andrews, the president also needs to change his team.
“Secretary Rumsfeld is not capable of carrying out these goals, not because he is not an intelligent man, but people will not listen to him,” he said.
Hassan said he likes Roberts’ ideas.
“I think more politicians on the hill need to emulate Congressman Roberts’ example of whitening the debate to save Iraq from descending further into chaos and destruction,” he said.
Freshman Gene Doyel said he agreed with one of Roberts’ main points about cooperating with the Arab governments to get help with resistance for establishing a stable Iraq.
“I think that he has probably the most intelligent position on Iraq I’ve yet heard,” he said.
Roberts said he expects students “to challenge what I say, my ideas and to help improve on them.”
|