US House Democrat vows to re-examine Iraq policy

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) Rep Ike Skelton, poised to become chairman of the House Armed Services Committee after yesterday's Democratic election gains, today vowed to re-examine US policy in Iraq and focus on better oversight of the Pentagon.

The Missouri Democrat said Iraq was ''edging toward chaos with no light at the end of the tunnel for the American efforts.'' He said the election gave Democrats a clear mandate to undertake ''a comprehensive examination of our current policy in Iraq and identifying options for the future.'' As a result of the Iraq war, the US military was ''stretched dangerously thin, resulting in serious readiness problems should our forces be needed elsewhere to defend US interests,'' he said in a statement.

Skelton, ranking Democrat on the House committee, is likely to become its chairman when the new Congress takes office in January.

Skelton said he would focus on taking care of troops and their families; rebuilding military readiness, particularly for the Army and the Marine Corps; and refocusing attention on the war in Afghanistan.

REUTERS AKJ BST2221