Baird sees need for longer U.S. role in Iraq

Brad Shannon
The Olympian

U.S. Rep. Brian Baird said Thursday that his recent trip to Iraq
convinced him the military needs more time in the region, and that a
hasty pullout would cause chaos that helps Iran and harms U.S.
security.

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Baird, a five-term Democrat, voted against President Bush ordering the
Iraq invasion - at a time when he was in a minority in Congress and at
risk of alienating voters. He returned late Tuesday from a trip that
included stops in Israel, Jordan and Iraq, where he met troops, U.S.
advisers and Iraqis, whose stories have convinced him that U.S. troops
must stay longer.

With Congress poised next month to look at U.S. progress in Iraq and a
vote looming on U.S. funding for the war, Baird said he's inclined to
seek a continued U.S. presence in Iraq beyond what many impatient
Americans want. He also expects Gen. David Petraeus, who oversees U.S.
troops in Iraq, to seek a redeployment of forces. "People may be
upset. I wish I didn't have to say this," Baird said. He added that
the United States needs to continue with its military troops surge "at
least into early next year, then engage in a gradual redeployment. ... I
know it's going to cost hundreds of American lives and hundreds of
billions of dollars."