WASHINGTON — The U.S. general responsible for the Army's Iraq war strategy for the last two years was berated by leading Senate critics Thursday for American military failures, and was accused of providing unduly optimistic assessments of progress as U.S. fortunes sagged.
Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. appeared before the Senate panel that is weighing his nomination to be the next Army chief of staff. The hearing was unusually tense at times, as senators who support the troop increase that has been ordered by President Bush took Casey to task for his leadership of the war.
"I question seriously the judgment that was employed in your execution of your responsibilities in Iraq," Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told Casey. "And we have paid a very, very heavy price in American blood and treasure because of what is now agreed to by literally everyone as a failed policy."
Casey has long been a skeptic of increasing the size of the American force in Iraq, and his testimony amounted to a tepid endorsement at best of Bush's controversial new strategy.
The Senate Armed Services Committee hearing was an unusual scene for Washington: a highly decorated four-star general being grilled by prominent Republicans while he offered only lackluster support for the president's policies.
But Casey's appearance reflected the split within the military over Bush's war plan. Many younger commanders and rising officers support the new strategy, with its emphasis on counterinsurgency methods. But some senior military leaders remain skeptical about the ability of U.S. forces to end the brutal sectarian violence.
Although Casey is an unenthusiastic supporter of the new strategy, the White House nominated him to become the chief of staff of the Army in part to recognize his long service in Baghdad. Though his new post would represent a nominal promotion, it also would remove him from the chain of command and limit his direct influence over Iraq policy.
Casey faced senators as Congress was wrestling with resolutions to express disapproval of Bush's new war plan and just before today's release of a long-awaited intelligence report that is expected to portray a bleak picture of fruitless U.S. efforts in Iraq.
Thursday's hearing provided senators with a forum to debate the new Bush policy. But because Casey was until recently opposed to troop increases, the toughest questions came from the plan's supporters.
