Edwards urges cap on troops in Iraq

[citizen snips]

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards stepped up his opposition to the Iraq war Wednesday, calling for Congress to cut off funding for any troops in the country beyond 100,000.

Edwards said such a move was the only way to prevent President Bush from putting another 20,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. He also called for withdrawing all combat troops over the next 12 to 18 months.

"We don't need debate," Edwards, a former U.S. senator, said in a statement. "We don't need non-binding resolutions. We need to end this war, and Congress has the power do do it. They should use it now."

Edwards' comments came at a time when the U.S. House is debating the president's war policy. A new survey by USA TODAY/Gallup Poll released Tuesday found overwhelming support for congressional action to cap the number of U.S. troops in Iraq and set a timetable to bring them home by the end of next year.

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http://www.newsobserver.com/701/story/543225.html

[saltpoint]

1. If I picture John Edwards in a roomful of people in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

or Henderson, Nevada, or Portsmouth, New Hampshire, I think what he's saying now gets him a roomful of heads nodding yes.

And some dedicated and loyal voters as well.

Last November voters said they thought Bush's war was going haywire, and so despite Republicans' efforts to frustrate those same voters even more, Edwards is clear enough in what he thinks should happen.

And the polls back him up now even more than the November vote did.

Edwards is looking pretty strong on this issue these days, and the Republicans are looking pretty stupid.

[PATRICK]

2. Exactly what needs to be said

and a need that transcends political calculations that seem to enfeeble the measured words of the other candidates who likely agree with him. Confronting Bush on the war vote in concert with Biden's following call to revisit and revoke the authorization is another necessary catalyst. We yet have time to at least delay Bush and save lives and disasters.

We need strong voices to break out of the conspiracy of distraction and the patently absurd myth of having a legitimate president with the power to decide policy dictated by his despised Veep.

No one will credit it as important a step as it is, but I do and thank Edwards deeply on behalf of a world of hope and peace.

And listen more to Dennis.

[saltpoint]

4. Hi, PATRICK. I hear you loud and clear. And I love the passage

about Uncle Dick. Just right.

It's tempting to allow our spirits to sag but you mention three major Democratic minds who just won't let us. It might be best if the GOP just conceded the 2008 election right now. I think they are going to have an uphill climb of it trying to defend Bush's indefensible foreign policy. "We're too resolute to negotiate with Syria and Iran, but if they misbehave, we'll bomb them for sure."

Doesn't sound much like a foreign policy to me.

[citizen snips]

3. whats up Old Crusoe

I like how Edwards is building on his plan to end this war.

[saltpoint]

5. Agree. And I like the constituency groups he's talking to, also.

Evidently he has some strong union support in Nevada, which is I think second on the schedule next winter after Iowa and just before New Hampshire.

If he can take Iowa and Nevada, he may be able to do much better in New Hampshire.