Dean Blasted for 'Can't Win This War' Comment


(1st Add: Includes comments from House Speaker Dennis Hastert and President Bush.)

(CNSNews.com) - The head of the Democratic Party told a San Antonio radio station on Monday morning that the U.S. can't win the war in Iraq. Howard Dean's comment drew a sharp response from Republicans later in the day.

Dean told radio station WOAI, "The idea that we're going to win this war is an idea that unfortunately is just plain wrong." Dean said he's seen such a scenario before -- in Vietnam -- and "I don't want to do down that road again."

Republicans expressed outrage:

"In predicting that America will lose the war in Iraq, Howard Dean is the latest national Democrat leader to embrace retreat and defeat in the central front in the war on terror," said Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman.

"His outrageous prediction sends the wrong message to our troops, the enemy, and the Iraqi people just 10 days before historic elections. Democrats across the nation should stand up and reject the pessimism of their chairman and strategy of defeat by their Congressional leaders."

During his radio interview, Dean advocated the "redeployment" of U.S. troops over two years, with 80,000 National Guardsmen coming home "now" because "they don't belong in a conflict like this anyway."

Dean said he would not use the word "withdrawal," but he also insisted the U.S. cannot keep troops in Iraq permanently.

Dean said he wants to see U.S. troops moved out of Iraq to a friendlier country where they won't have a target on their backs.

"Now that we're there, we've got to figure out how to leave because we cannot have a permanent commitment [in Iraq]."

"We should all be grateful that Governor Dean is not General Dean. Rather than standing by our troops who are fighting the War on Terror, Howard Dean has made it clear the Democratic Party sides with those who wish to surrender," said House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) in a statement in response to Dean's comments.

"This type of rhetoric for political gain is irresponsible. But even worse, it sends the wrong message to our troops who are fighting terrorism on the front lines and to the millions of Iraqis who are days away from another landmark accomplishment in their march towards freedom," added Hastert.

President Bush also fired back at Dean for his comments on the war.

"I know we're going to win, and our troops need to hear not only that they are supported but that we have got a strategy that will win," said Bush.

http://www.cnsnews.com/Politics/archive/20...L20051206b.html