Bush in 'state of denial' about Iraq war: Senate leader

Last Updated: Monday, April 23, 2007 | 2:26 PM ET

CBC News

U.S. President George W. Bush is in a "state of denial" about the war in Iraq and uses "happy talk" to hide the grim facts of the conflict, the U.S. Senate majority leader said Monday.

Harry Reid, in remarks prepared for delivery, said the U.S. Congress is planning to pass legislation within days that would pull American troops out of Iraq starting this fall, with complete withdrawal possible in just under a year.

"With all due respect, our president is wrong. And the new Congress will show him the way," he said.

Both Reid and Bush presented sharply different views on Monday on what should be done about the war in Iraq.

Bush threatened to veto any bill that would impose a timetable to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq, while Reid said a surge in diplomacy, as opposed to a surge in troops, is what is needed to turn the situation around.

"What a shame that after five and a half years, so many lost lives and so much treasure depleted, President Bush hasn't budged from the shoot-first, talk-never style that one national magazine described as 'cowboy diplomacy' — that got us into this mess in the first place," Reid said.

Earlier, Bush said pulling American troops out of Iraq according to a timetable imposed by politicians in Washington would be a mistake that would simply tell insurgents to bide their time.

"I believe artificial timetables of withdrawal would be a mistake. An artificial timetable of withdrawal would say to an enemy, just wait them out," Bush told reporters at the White House.

"It would say to the Iraqis: don't do hard things necessary to achieve our objectives. And it would be discouraging for our troops."

Bush said he thinks "Washington politicians" should not try to tell "those who wear the uniform" how to perform their jobs.

But he added: "I will, of course, be willing to work with the Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, on a way forward. "

Ready to pass legislation by fall

Reid, in a speech that was to be delivered to Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., said Congress is ready to pass legislation that would require U.S. troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq by Oct. 1.

The Democrats control both Houses of Congress, but their majority in the Senate is slim. The party's majority is considered to be 51 in the Senate but Reid said 60 is needed to do business, which means the Democrats need the support of Republican senators to push their agenda.

Reid said the proposed legislation would pave the way for a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops by April 1, 2008.

He said troops remaining in Iraq after that date, according to the legislation, would be engaged in training Iraqi forces, protecting U.S. forces and conducting what he called "targeted counter-terror operations."

"This transitions our mission to one that is aligned with U.S. strategic interests, while at the same time, reducing our combat footprint. U.S. troops should not be interjecting themselves between warring factions, kicking down doors, trying to sort Shia from Sunni or friend from foe."

Reid said the legislation will also set goals for the Iraqi government to meet in terms of "making progress on security, political reconciliation and improving the lives of ordinary Iraqis who have suffered so much."

"Our timetable is fair and reasonable. We have put our plan on the table. If the president disagrees, let him come to us with an alternative," he said.

The measure also would set the stage for diplomatic, economic and political policy changes, Reid said.

Members of the House and Senate were expected to meet on Monday afternoon to discuss the legislation. The bill will be attached to a funding bill that needs to be passed to cover the costs of the war in Iraq.