I am flabbergasted. Maybe I shouldn’t be, since this story in the Raleigh N&O is local only.
Freshly returned from Baghdad, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr said Thursday that a premature pullout of American forces there could destabilize the entire Middle East — possibly leading to civil war in Iraq or the toppling of the Saudi royal family.
Burr, a freshman Republican from Winston-Salem, said tremendous progress is being made in training Iraqi forces to provide security for their country, allowing for the eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces. But Burr said it would be a mistake for the U.S. to withdraw before Iraqi forces are fully able to take over or to put a timetable on the withdrawal.
Good for him. Just do not hear much from either of our NC Senator’s.
Burr was part of a small delegation of senators who met Saturday with senior U.S. and civilian leaders in Iraq as well as rank-and-file soldiers.
"Don’t pull us out of here," was the message from the soldiers, Burr said. "That meant more to me than any general or elected representative in the country from Iraq or the U.S."
I think that statement stands on its own.
Burr is a pretty sharp fellow, so it is indeed rare to hear anything about him in the formerly mainstream media.