Kissinger: Military victory not possible
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger says current circumstances in Iraq make it impossible for the United States to win a full military victory.
Kissinger's comments to the BBC Sunday came the same day more than 50 people lost their lives from ongoing hostilities in Iraq, and added to the increasing political pressure for troop redeployment, The New York Times reported.
"If you mean, by 'military victory,' an Iraqi government that can be established and whose writ runs across the whole country, that gets the civil war under control and sectarian violence under control in a time period that the political processes of the democracies will support, I don't believe that is possible," said Kissinger.
The former secretary of state said U.S. officials must begin talks with Iraq's Mideast neighbors. He openly opposed any hasty withdrawal of U.S. troops.
The Times said Kissinger's pessimistic comments stand in stark contrast to his previous stance that only victory could ensure a U.S. exit from Iraq.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who supports increasing troop strength, told ABC's "This Week" U.S. troops in Iraq were "fighting and dying for a failed policy" but said the United States cannot afford to lose in Iraq.
Dems: 'We need to talk to Iran and Syria'
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen.-elect Jim Webb, D-Va., Sunday said the key to ending the conflict in Iraq lies with talking with its Mideast neighbors.
Speaking with "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert, the Virginia Democrat said that in order to end the escalating crisis in Iraq, U.S. officials should open discussions with both Iran and Syria.
"We need to talk to Iran and Syria. I think it was a great mistake not to as this moves forward," said Webb, who has a son serving in Iraq.
Webb's comments were echoed by Sen.-elect Jon Tester, D-Mont., who also urged the involvement of U.S. allies and enemies to end the hostilities in Iraq.
"We also need to talk to our enemies and put diplomatic pressure on them," Tester said. "But we also need to visit with our allies around the world to, to develop a plan to, to make, to make this war come to some sort of conclusion and get our troops home."
While neither Webb nor Tester openly blamed President George W. Bush for the Iraqi conflict, both criticized past U.S. strategy.
Rangel renews call for military draft
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., Sunday renewed his call for the United States to reinstate the military draft.
Appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation," the longtime Harlem congressman said the goal of his plan is to keep the country away from war.
Rangel, incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said a draft would force authorities to consider more seriously beginning military conflicts because of the effect it could have on families.
"There's no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought their kids in their communities would be placed in harm's way," said Rangel, a Korean War veteran.
About seven in 10 U.S. citizens oppose reinstating draft, recent polls indicate.
India test-fires medium-range missile
BALASORE, India, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Indian defense officials test-fired the country's medium-range, surface-to-surface Prithvi missile Sunday near Balasore, as part of an air defense exercise.
The missile has a range of between 90 miles and 150 miles, which officials said could be longer with a reduced payload, The Press Trust of India said Sunday. The defense spokesman said the missile usually takes about five minutes to reach a target 90 miles away.
Prithvi has a launch weight of 4.6 tons, including a 1-ton payload, and can use both solid and liquid propellants.
As a precaution, the Balasore district administration temporarily evacuated 600 families from villages located within about a 1 ½-mile radius of the missile launch site.
