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Well here's Dominici's Big News...

First: Right out of the gate he had stated his disappointment, and therby basically blamed the Iraqi government.

Secondly: As I pointed out in my previous post above, at the very end you will find:

• Maintain a long-term, but more limited presence in Iraq to support a short-term redeployment of combat forces to stabilize Baghdad, complemented by a political, economic, and diplomatic strategy.

Now it comes down to, how many bases -- how many troops -- and how many years of Korea-like presence?

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PRESS RELEASES OF SENATOR PETE DOMENICI

http://domenici.senate.gov/news/printrecord.cfm?id=278341

Domenici, Pushed by Iraqi Government Failures, Supports New U.S. Military Strategy

Thursday, July 5, 2007

-- Backs Plan Moving U.S. Troops Away from Combat, Toward Home --


WASHINGTON – Pointing to his profound disappointment in the Iraqi government, U.S. Senator Pete Domenici today called for a redirection of U.S. military policy in Iraq and announced his support for bipartisan legislation to create conditions by which American combat troops can be removed from that nation.

Domenici, who serves on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, announced his decision to support the legislation, the Iraq Study Group Recommendation Implementation Act (S.1545), at a news conference in Albuquerque Thursday.

“I want a new strategy for Iraq. I continue to completely support the men and women in the American Armed Forces. They have not failed us. It is the Iraqi government that is failing to make even modest progress to help Iraq itself or to merit the sacrifices being made by our men and women in uniform,” Domenici said. “I am unwilling to continue our current strategy.”

"I have carefully studied the Iraq situation, and believe we cannot continue asking our troops to sacrifice indefinitely while the Iraqi government is not making measurable progress to move its country forward,” Domenici said. “I do not support an immediate withdrawal from Iraq or a reduction in funding for our troops. But I do support a new strategy that will move our troops out of combat operations and on the path to coming home.”

S.1545, introduced by Senators Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), embraces the recommendations in the Iraq Study Group Report issued by the bipartisan Baker Hamilton Commission. The bill makes the Iraq Study Group’s 79 recommendations the policy of the United States, and asks the Bush administration—working with military and diplomatic leaders—to implement those recommendations.

The bill is intended to create conditions that could allow for a drawdown of American combat forces in Iraq by March 2008. Under S.1545, the U.S. military could maintain a long-term but more limited presence in Iraq—focused on protecting American personnel and interests, training and advising Iraqi forces, and carrying out counterterrorism and special operations missions.

Domenici indicated that the provisions in S.1545 could be debated as part of the FY2008 Defense Authorization Bill that the Senate will take up next week.

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Iraq Study Group Recommendations Implementation Act (S. 1545)

• Legislation to make the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group the official policy of the United States.

Why introduce this bill now?

• A political solution in Washington is needed as much as one is needed in Baghdad.

• The recommendations of the Iraq Study Group offer the best opportunity for a bipartisan consensus on a new course in Iraq.

What would the bill do?

• It would get the United States out of the combat in Iraq, and into the support, training, and equipping business, as soon as possible.

How would that work?

• Create the conditions that could allow for a drawdown of combat forces by March of 2008 (not a set deadline) so that those who remain could:

>> Protect U.S. and coalition personnel and infrastructure

>> Train, equip, and advise Iraqi forces

>> Conduct targeted counterterrorism operations

>> Conduct search and rescue missions

>> Conduct rapid reaction and special operations

• Maintain a long-term, but more limited presence in Iraq to support a short-term redeployment of combat forces to stabilize Baghdad, complemented by a political, economic, and diplomatic strategy.

• Support the comprehensive set of recommendations of the Iraq Study Group – from establishing milestones to evaluate Iraqi progress, to engaging in diplomatic discussions with all of Iraq’s neighbors.

• Cosponsored by Senators: Salazar, Alexander, Pryor, Domenici, Bennett, Casey, Gregg, Lincoln, Sununu, and Collins.

END

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~OGD~