***Kerry Calls On Senate to Set One Year Deadline for US Troops to Leave Iraq***

whometense

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Tue Feb-06-07 12:39 PM
Original message

Edited on Tue Feb-06-07 01:14 PM by whometense

Press release from a noon press conference:

Kerry Calls On Senate to Set One Year Deadline for US Troops to Leave Iraq

Says Diplomatic Initiative, Firm Benchmarks for Iraqi Leaders Must be Part of Strategy

WASHINGTON, DC � Sen. John Kerry today said he is introducing legislation that would include many of the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group and set a firm deadline for the withdrawal of most U.S. troops from Iraq. Kerry said the other key elements of his bill are: launching a major diplomatic initiative, enforcing a series of benchmarks for meeting key political objectives, shifting the military mission to training Iraqi security forces and counter-terrorism operations, and maintaining on over the horizon presence to protect U.S. regional interests.

�The only people who believe there is a workable military solution for the conflict in Iraq is The Bush Administration,� Kerry said. �We must find a way to force the Iraqi politicians to make the tough compromises necessary to find a sustainable political solution. It�s time to sponsor a regional effort aimed at using diplomacy to achieve peace. We can�t pull the plug on our efforts in Iraq overnight, nor can we endlessly debate continuing the status quo into the next decade. My plan offers a rock solid deadline that forces Iraqis to step up their responsibilities while redirecting the mission of US troops to training, counter-terrorism and force protection.�

�The president is asking Congress to approve another $245 billion to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have little to show for our effort in Iraq and the president and Republicans in Congress are attempting to prevent us from debating this issue on the floor of the Senate. The American people aren�t interested in 60-vote minimums. They want to see the leaders in Washington have a plan for moving our brave men and women out of the chaotic civil war in Iraq.�

The legislation is based on Kerry�s bill from last year, which also called for creating a firm one year deadline for the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq, leaving only the minimum number necessary to complete the training of Iraqi security forces, go after terrorists, and protect United States facilities and personnel. In December, the Iraq Study Group set a goal of withdrawing United States combat forces from Iraq within a year. This date was based upon the timeframe for transferring responsibility to Iraqi security forces set forth by George W. Casey Jr., and on the schedule agreed upon by the Iraqi government for achieving key political and security objectives. It is also consistent with the President�s stated objective, worked out with the Iraqi government, of transferring full security responsibility to the Iraqis by November of 2007. Senator Kerry continues to believe that setting a firm one year deadline is necessary to make that goal a reality.

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