Lawmaker (DEM-Welch) urges drawdown of troops in Iraq

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060603/ap_on_el_se/democrats_iraq

Lawmaker urges drawdown of troops in Iraq

By ROSS SNEYD, Associated Press Writer 43 minutes ago

MONTPELIER, Vt. - U.S. soldiers need to begin leaving
Iraq this year and the fledgling Iraqi government must take on more responsibility, a Vermont state senator said in the Democrats' weekly radio address.

"We must ensure that 2006 is a year of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty," Peter Welch said in remarks taped Friday. "We must establish clear benchmarks for the Iraqis to take care of their own country and defend themselves, so that we can transition our troops out and move to fight a smarter war on terrorism."

Welch, the Vermont state senate president pro tem, is seeking the open seat held by Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who is running for the Senate. Welch faces a strong candidate in likely Republican nominee Martha Rainville, the former adjutant general of the Vermont National Guard and the first woman to command a state National Guard.

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Despite Rainville's military background, Welch has made the Iraq war a major part of his campaign as he seeks to link Rainville to the Bush administration and congressional Republicans. The war has been unpopular in Vermont, whose congressional delegation was the only one in the country to unanimously oppose the resolution authorizing the U.S.-led invasion.

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