Joe Lieberman: “I thank the Chair. This, in fact, is exactly what the most recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq predicted. A…”

“I thank the Chair. This, in fact, is exactly what the most recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq predicted. A withdrawal of American troops in the months ahead would ``almost certainly lead to a significant increase in the scale and scope of sectarian conflict, intensify Sunni resistance, and have adverse effects on national reconciliation.'' That is the NIE, broadly supported and embraced by proponents of the Iraq language in this legislation. Second, the majority leader said withdrawing our troops will ``reduce the specter of the U.S. occupation which gives fuel to the insurgency.'' My colleague from Nevada, in other words, is saying the insurgency is in some measure being provoked by the very presence of American troops. By diminishing that presence, presumably the insurgency will diminish. But I ask my colleagues, where is the evidence to support this theory? I find none. In fact, all the evidence I find supports the opposite conclusion. Since 2003, and before General Petraeus took command and began implementing our new strategy there, American forces were ordered on several occasions to pull back from Iraqi cities and regions, including Mosul, Fallujah, Tel'Afar, and Baghdad. What happened in these places? Did they stabilize when the American troops left? Did the insurgency go away? Of course not. On the contrary, in each of these places where U.S. forces pulled back, al-Qaida and sectarian warriors rushed in.…”