Feingold Goes To Iraq

Senator Russ Feingold made his second visit to Iraq, alongside perpetual hawk Senator John McCain. I was curious to see what Feingold would say, because it is common practice for politicians to be overly diplomatic while abroad. Not surprisingly, Feingold didn't shy away and offered these comments to reporters:

Feingold said he believed "a large troop presence has a tendency to fuel the insurgency because they can make the incorrect and unfair claim that the U.S. is here to occupy the country."

"I think that it's very possible that the sectarian differences are inflamed by the fact that U.S. troops are here," he continued, adding that their long-term presence "may well be destabilizing, not stabilizing."

Feingold has been making this argument since late last summer, at the time he was vilified. It is important to hear Feingold make these remarks while in Iraq, with the Arab world watching. Feingold offered one other nugget to counter the Bush arguments for continued occupation:

Feingold said he was dismayed not to hear any of the military commanders he met with mention al-Qaeda as a source of the problems in Iraq. The Bush administration and U.S. officials here often point to the radical group as a major source of instability in the country.

"There seems to be a disconnect between the rhetoric in Washington about what this is all about and what we hear here," Feingold said.

Feingold accurately downplays the role of foreign fighters with Al Qaeda connections. In so doing, the emphasis is back to the main source of instability, the homegrown insurgency. I'm sure Feingold will take some heat back home for his candid comments, but someone has to push the envelope. I am so sick of watching Democrats offer timid criticisms and empty rhetoric when visiting Iraq. Finally, someone dares to challenge the administration, while in the midst of the military he commands.