'War czar' nominee sees lots of work ahead

STAR TELEGRAM
WASHINGTON -- The three-star general picked by President Bush to be his war adviser spoke on the first day of his confirmation hearing Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Deputy national security adviser on Iraq and Afghanistan is a new position intended to reach across agency bureaucracies and better execute Bush's policy on the two conflicts.

The main points made by Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute:

On the Iraqi government's ability to take control of its country:

"The question in my mind is not to what extent can we force them ... to a particular outcome but rather to what degree do they actually have the capacity themselves to produce that outcome." And if the Iraqis are "pressed too hard, will we, in turn, end up with an outcome that isn't really worth the paper it's written on?" He noted that the Iraqi government had been in power just over a year.

On Iraqis wanting to achieve national reconciliation:

Lute admitted that Iraqi politicians and religious leaders "have shown so far very little progress" in meeting benchmarks they have set that are designed to lead to an end of factional fighting. Unless they start making progress, there's unlikely to be any decrease in violence, he said. "I have reservations about just how much leverage we can apply on a system that is not very capable right now," Lute said.

On his skepticism toward the troop buildup in Iraq ordered by President Bush in January:

Lute said he registered his concerns on the issue with Bush and his top aides when they interviewed him for the job, arguing that a military solution wasn't enough to bring lasting national stability. In Lute's view, a "surge" of troops would likely have only temporary and localized effects unless it were accompanied by counterpart surges by the Iraqi government and nonmilitary agencies of the U.S. government.

On early results of the troop buildup:

Lute said results were mixed. "I'd assess at this point that the Iraqi participation in the surge has been uneven so far," he said. "And I think we're in the early days, and time will tell." He said the troop increase in Greater Baghdad and Anbar province to the west made Iraqi officials understand that the U.S. was providing them security. "We're giving them a golden opportunity that they must seize to make progress on the political front."

On the United States paying a heavy price with soldiers killed and seriously wounded to establish Iraq's government:

American personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan are "foremost in my mind," Lute said. "They are absolutely behind my motivation to seek this appointment and seek this nomination, your confirmation of this nomination and try to make a difference here in Washington."

On whether U.S. troops should be withdrawn:

Lute said withdrawing some troops may pressure the Iraqi government to make needed changes. A withdrawal "ought to be considered," he said.

On his role as "war czar" if confirmed:

Lute promised to give Bush his unvarnished military advice.

Sources: The Associated Press, McClatchy Newspapers, Bloomberg News