Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) this week “announced legislation that will require troop redeployment if the Iraqi government has not met specific benchmarks.” Snowe, who just returned from Iraq, told CBS News yesterday, “Based on my recent trip, I can tell you, things have not markedly improved.” Watch the report:
Snowe’s impressions were at sharp odds with those of Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO), a Bush ally and war supporter who also toured Iraq:
Bond, whom GOP lawmakers put in front of cameras yesterday after the weekly caucus lunch, described the situation as stable in Iraq and said he was encouraged that the military surge was working. In Ramadi, he described walking around with just a small security force and said that local authorities have reported a boost in those joining the police and military. And overall, he saw positive changes in the nation.
“Obviously this is very early,” he said, “but the signs are extremely positive.”
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