WASHINGTON, DC—Senator Susan Collins, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned top U.S. defense officials, including DoD Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, about the status of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the global war on terrorism. In addition to Secretary Rumsfeld, witnesses included General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and General John P. Abizaid, Commander of U.S. Central Command.
During her questioning of General Abizaid, Senator Collins pointed out that the premise to the U.S. exit strategy in Iraq is that as the size and capability of the Iraqi military and security forces increase, the more opportunity there should be for a draw down of U.S. forces. She reiterated her long-standing position that a political solution to the conflict was equally important to a military solution.
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