Lawmakers Grill Rice Over the Iraq War

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007 before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (Pablo Martinez Monsivais - AP)

And this, from a Republican who also has presidential aspirations: "The most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam." Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska was talking about Bush's speech on Wednesday night, when the president announced his plan to increase U.S. troops in Iraq.

Hagel has opposed the Bush policy for some time. But Sen. Bill Nelson, a moderate Democrat from Florida, has supported it. No more.

"I have not been told the truth," Nelson said. "I have not been told the truth over and over again."

Two more presidential aspirants weighed in. "Unbelievably off the mark," Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts said of Bush's approach. Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois picked through the Iraq policy in a restrained fashion.

Boxer made it personal.

"I'm not going to pay a personal price," she said. "My kids are too old and my grandchild is too young. You're not going to pay a particular price, as I understand it, with an immediate family."

Boxer talked about families losing loved ones and soldiers in hospital burn units. "These are the people who pay the price."

Rice said evenly that she understands the sacrifice of service members and families.

"I visit them. I know what they're going through. I talk to their families. I see it. I could never and I can never do anything to replace any of those lost men and women in uniform, or the diplomats, some of whom. ..."

Boxer cut her off.

"Madam Secretary, please," she said. "I know you feel terrible about it. That's not the point. I was making the case as to who pays the price for your decisions."

In the House, lawmakers appeared mindful of Gates' status as the newcomer on the Bush administration's Iraq team and largely avoided the kind of tough questions and pointed comments that senators heaved at Rice.

"We are blessed to have you, Mr. Secretary," the committee chairman, Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said at the outset.

Gates, sworn in Dec. 18, noted that his testimony came on "the anniversary of the conclusion of my third week in the job."

Some of the toughest comments were directed toward Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"This is the craziest, dumbest plan I've ever seen or heard of in my life," Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, told Pace.

___

Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.