Skelton: Iraqis, more U.S. agencies need to be involved

FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- Government agencies outside the U.S. military need to be involved in rebuilding Iraq as the debate over troop withdrawals intensifies, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton said Thursday.

During a speech to officers and faculty at the Army's Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Skelton, D-Mo., said the United States has an interest in making sure Iraq is stable, but the military can't make it happen alone.

As an example, Skelton said the State Department doesn't have enough resources to help promote reconciliation among Iraq's battling factions. But the Iraqi leaders have to find the means "to start gluing Humpty Dumpty back together again," he added.

"I think it's in our national interest to have a stable Iraq," Skelton said. "The Iraqis have to solve their own problems. You in the military can't do it for them."

Skelton asked for a show of hands of those officers who have been to Iraq -- few weren't raised and half of those raised their hands when asked if they had been deployed twice.

His remarks came three days after Congress began hearing testimony from top U.S. military and civilian officials in Iraq.

In a televised speech Thursday night, President Bush ordered limited troop withdrawals from Iraq and said more forces can come home depending on success.

Skelton, who did not take questions from reporters, said the Army has performed its duties well, but he is "deeply concerned" about readiness for future battles.

He cited China, Latin America and the Middle East as potential locations for conflict.