01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, February 1, 2005

BY JOHN E. MULLIGAN
Journal Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON --

Rhode Island's congressional delegation yesterday hailed Iraq's elections as a possible first step toward a new democracy in the Middle East and endorsed President Bush's commitment to keeping a large U.S. military force there, perhaps for years.

But even as they echoed Mr. Bush's warning of a long struggle to come, members of the delegation renewed their criticism of Bush administration policies that they portrayed as blunders that needlessly gave rise, in their view, to an anti-American insurgency.

All four members of the delegation explicitly rejected the call -- from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and other war critics -- to start pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq immediately and to set a timetable for total withdrawal. But all four were cautious in their assessment of post-election Iraq, stressing that this week's advances do not guarantee a successful democracy.

Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy said he doesn't "differ with the sentiment" behind calls for bringing

the troops home, "but we don't want to give up on the success that we've created."

"We've moved the ball toward the goal line here. It doesn't make sense to pull out now," said Kennedy, a son of the Democratic senator from Massachusetts and the only member of the local delegation who backed Mr. Bush's decision to invade Iraq.

"I was brought up to reinforce successes," said Sen. Jack Reed, also a Democrat, explaining his support for the Pentagon's declaration that the United States must maintain its current force level in Iraq for at least two years. Reed, a former Army officer, voted against authorizing Mr. Bush's attack on Iraq and has found much fault with his conduct of the war.

Early U.S. troop reductions and timetables for withdrawal could be dangerous on two counts, said Reed. First, they "run the risk of giving the insurgency more incentive" to continue its violent campaign, he said. Second, any lessening of U.S. support "would signal to the Iraqis that they've got to be very careful" about relying on the United States.

Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee, the only Senate Republican to oppose the war, said he, too, "would be a little more cautious" than Senator Kennedy on pulling American troops out of Iraq. A reduced U.S force might be dangerous, Chafee said, possibly leading to "the situation worsening to the point of chaos."

"I want to see the troops come home and stay home," said Rep. James R. Langevin, a Democrat and another opponent of the invasion. Langevin expressed the fear that an early U.S. reduction in force could jeopardize the security necessary to sustain any emerging democracy in Iraq. A collapse of the new Iraqi authority could make it necessary for the United States to return to prevent the establishment of a terrorist enclave in Iraq, he said.

Langevin, like his colleagues in the delegation, stressed that "only the most optimistic scenario" shows Iraq on the march toward a constitution and a stable, democratically elected government that has the police and troops to keep the new nation secure.

Langevin warned against early proclamations of complete success, recalling how the swift defeat of Saddam Hussein in 2003 soon gave way to a wave of disorder and looting that now seem to have been early indications of the insurgency to come.

Langevin said much more progress will need to be seen in the training of Iraqi forces before it will be clear how well they can protect the new government and secure the peace -- and replace U.S. troops.

Nevertheless, Langevin said that "with this election, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel that could allow our forces to come home" eventually.

Langevin said he will be watching for greater participation by the Sunni Muslim minority in the vote this fall on the new constitution as one indication of a growing democracy.

Reed said that if early reports of low Sunni turnout Sunday prove correct, a key test of the emerging government will be its ability to find meaningful roles for Sunnis -- in legislative bodies, government ministries and in the military.

Reed also asserted that "the fundamental issue" of security has not changed and he estimated that it will take three to five years for Iraqi forces to replace U.S. troops -- if useful Iraqi police and military forces can indeed be recruited and trained. Reed said it remains a question whether such forces can be inculcated with loyalty to the nation at large and its new government -- rather than just to individual tribes, religious leaders or politicians.

Kennedy said he will be watching for such signs of democratic progress as participation in political rallies and gatherings.

Chafee said he took heart from the phenomenon of "human beings yearning to participate in their own government, even under duress and in danger."

He expressed hope that the United States will take note of the United Nations contribution to the apparent success of the elections.