from the man who gave us three extra years of Vietnam
Kissinger: U.S. Should Stay in Iraq for Now
By PEGGY HARRIS
Associated Press Writer
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said Wednesday that Republicans and Democrats should forge bipartisan support for President Bush to bring stability to Iraq instead of arguing over the war.
"The fundamental fact is we cannot afford to leave that area under conditions that leave chaos," Kissinger told hundreds of business people at an annual meeting of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce.
Terrorists cannot be disabled through traditional diplomatic means, said Kissinger, who was secretary of state and national security adviser under the administrations of Nixon and Ford. He retains substantial influence in foreign affairs, and continues to have close links to the Bush administration.
Kissinger, 82, urged compromise across political party lines and international boundaries.
As the war continues, President Bush's ratings have fallen. On Wednesday, Bush again defended his war policy, saying that while the violence has been unrelenting, Iraq is making steady progress. Democrats criticize the White House as having no clear plan for bringing American troops home.