Raw Story is pointing to an amazing article by David Swanson at
afterdowningstreet.org covering testimony by Lt. Gen. William E. Odom, US Army (Ret.) before the Sept. 26 Iraq Forum called by Rep. Lynn Woolsey. (Rep. Woolsey
diaried his testimony here, but she only touched the surface of this bombshell). A full transcript of the testimony can be found
here (pdf). Odom was Reagan's NSA head, among many other important posts. Hightlights are:
The invasion of Iraq probably saved al Qaeda from ceasing to exist. There is nothing we can do to stop Iran from getting nukes, but we should be talking to them, because our countries actually have many interests in common. The consequences of leaving Iraq will be severe, but the longer we wait, the worse they will get. In response to the question, "How do we get out?", he answered: "Well, the Constitution gives the House the right to impeach."
His reponse to Republicans saying we should ignore how we got into Iraq and focus on what to do now was:
Unless... we discuss whose interests this war served, we cannot decide what to do. It served no U.S. interests. It served the interests of al Qaeda and Iran.
Al Qaeda recruiting declined in 2002, Odom said, but spiked after the U.S. invaded -- rose in Asia as well as in the Middle East. And Iraq is a great training ground for terrorists now. In addition, Odom said, a wedge is being driven between the United States and its European allies. "Osama understands that; we seem not to." The invasion of Iraq, Odom said, probably saved al Qaeda from ceasing to exist.
Having just driven across Michigan, where there were long stretches where the only talk radio was O'Reilly and Limbaugh, I can tell you this is an important point. All the guests were dismissing the NIE on the grounds that it is simply to be expected that the terrorists will be fighting harder right now, since we've acted resolutely and attacked them.
"Iran's clerics," Odom added, "must have been equally surprised and delighted." Terrorists can now train in Iraq and engage in violence in Israel.
The longer the war goes on, Odom stressed, the more it benefits al Qaeda and Iran.
snip
During questions and answers Odom addressed the notion that U.S. troops need to do a better job of training Iraqi troops. If we do that, he said, the military will take over and install a dictatorship. The problem is not one of soldiers' skills, he said, but of political loyalties.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee said that the House is voting today on more money for the war, and that she will vote against it, but that she is glad to have successfully included in the bill a stipulation that no money can be spent on permanent U.S. bases in Iraq during 2007.
Odom again spoke about what would happen when/if the United States pulls out. The aftermath is going to be great, he said. It was going to be great the day you went in, but the longer you wait the greater it will be. And, Odom added to noticable effect, this will be the greatest strategic defeat in American history.
Odom argued that staying longer in Iraq would make things worse, whereas getting out would dramatically improve America's standing in the world. Our standing went up as soon as we got out of Vietnam, he said.
"Beating the war drums on Iran," Odom said, "is a disaster that will make this one look small."
Odom did not hesitate to criticise the Congress Members in the room. He recalled the day on which Republicans in Congress, in response to Rep. John Murtha's bill, proposed a bill to simply withdraw from Iraq. The Democrats scattered in fear, Odom said. He recommended that they should have introduced a bill to send 600,000 more troops to Iraq.
Congressman Conyers replied that the Republican bill did not allow amendments, so the Democrats could not have done that.
Odom said that the most important thing for the United States to do now is to talk to Iran, a nation with which we have many common interests. Both nations, Odom said, oppose al Qaeda. One wants to sell oil, the other wants to buy. Iran's government hated Saddam Hussein and should appreciate what the US did. "We have two issues," Odom said, "Hezbollah and nukes, and they're going to get nuclear weapons - there's nothing we can do about that."
Conyers thanked Odom and Pillar but said that he and his colleagues who agree with him cannot convince other Congress Members. "There's one thing that gets to members, and that's constituents...." In the end, conyers said, the question is how do we get more of our people to tell their representatives that the Progressive Caucus members are right?
snip
Rep. Hinchey asked Odom "How do we get out?" Odom's reply came without a pause: "Well, the Constitution gives the House the right to impeach."