thedrifter
01-15-06, 08:04 AM
Sen. Bond touts progress in Iraq
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Back from a weeklong trip to the Middle East, Sen. Kit Bond said he saw progress in the ability of Iraqi security forces to stop insurgents but decried security leaks that he says put intelligence sources at risk.
"Our intelligence personnel were very, very disturbed and disappointed by media revelations of hitherto classified information," the Missouri Republican told reporters Friday.
Bond blamed a recent book on the government's secret anti-terrorism operations by New York Times reporter James Risen. The book details the Bush administration's secret domestic eavesdropping program, which monitored the phone calls of people suspected of communicating with terrorists overseas.
He said intelligence officials told him covert sources have stopped cooperating with American forces and some nations have stopped coordinating with U.S. intelligence efforts.
"Several people said the recent revelations have blown the cover on some very significant sources who are now targeted for assassination," said Bond, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Bond traveled to Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Afghanistan and Pakistan with Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn.
Bond met with President Jalal Talabani in Iraq and President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan as well as with U.S. and other military officials. He met Missouri troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and said some soldiers expressed frustration that the media were not showing enough of the good news about improvements.
In Iraq, he said, officials told him U.S. and Iraqi forces have been successful in cracking down on insurgents.
"Senior people, military and nonmilitary alike, said while they had lots of doubts a year ago, they were now convinced Iraqi security forces were rapidly developing the capability to ensure security in the country," Bond said.
He said the next key steps will be establishing a national unity government with Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis as well as developing a constitution, training police and helping with reconstruction efforts.
A highlight of his visit to Iraq was a meeting with his son, Sam, a Marine lieutenant who has served in Iraq since February.
The day before, five Marines in his son's unit had been killed in separate accidents.
"It was a very tough day for him," Bond said.
Bond said his son is expected to return home in the next few months.
http://www.newstribune.com/content/articles/2006/01/15/news_state/0011406006.jpg
In this photo provided by Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., Bond, right, stands with his son, Marine 1st Lt. Sam Bond, during a recent visit to Iraq. Sam Bond has been stationed in Iraq since last February. (Via The Associated Press)
Ellie
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Back from a weeklong trip to the Middle East, Sen. Kit Bond said he saw progress in the ability of Iraqi security forces to stop insurgents but decried security leaks that he says put intelligence sources at risk.
"Our intelligence personnel were very, very disturbed and disappointed by media revelations of hitherto classified information," the Missouri Republican told reporters Friday.
Bond blamed a recent book on the government's secret anti-terrorism operations by New York Times reporter James Risen. The book details the Bush administration's secret domestic eavesdropping program, which monitored the phone calls of people suspected of communicating with terrorists overseas.
He said intelligence officials told him covert sources have stopped cooperating with American forces and some nations have stopped coordinating with U.S. intelligence efforts.
"Several people said the recent revelations have blown the cover on some very significant sources who are now targeted for assassination," said Bond, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Bond traveled to Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Afghanistan and Pakistan with Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Evan Bayh, D-Ind., and Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn.
Bond met with President Jalal Talabani in Iraq and President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan as well as with U.S. and other military officials. He met Missouri troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and said some soldiers expressed frustration that the media were not showing enough of the good news about improvements.
In Iraq, he said, officials told him U.S. and Iraqi forces have been successful in cracking down on insurgents.
"Senior people, military and nonmilitary alike, said while they had lots of doubts a year ago, they were now convinced Iraqi security forces were rapidly developing the capability to ensure security in the country," Bond said.
He said the next key steps will be establishing a national unity government with Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis as well as developing a constitution, training police and helping with reconstruction efforts.
A highlight of his visit to Iraq was a meeting with his son, Sam, a Marine lieutenant who has served in Iraq since February.
The day before, five Marines in his son's unit had been killed in separate accidents.
"It was a very tough day for him," Bond said.
Bond said his son is expected to return home in the next few months.
http://www.newstribune.com/content/articles/2006/01/15/news_state/0011406006.jpg
In this photo provided by Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., Bond, right, stands with his son, Marine 1st Lt. Sam Bond, during a recent visit to Iraq. Sam Bond has been stationed in Iraq since last February. (Via The Associated Press)
Ellie