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[jillan]

Did you know that Leahy had the Grateful Dead at his fundraiser -
Kerry/Leahy ticket?

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Subject: "Stay the course" is not a strategy



Dear Jill,

At long last, the Senate is having an extended debate on the war in Iraq –- a debate that is long overdue, and a debate that I welcome. In the absence of leadership from the Bush Administration, Congress now has a chance to do the right thing and change the course of American policy in Iraq.
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Today I’d like to share my thoughts with you about the next steps I believe we must take to end this unnecessary conflict.

Over the past months, public support for the war has rapidly eroded. Most Americans now recognize the war in Iraq as a tragic, costly mistake that has not made us more secure –- and indeed, many of you and I have said this from the beginning. It’s time for Iraqis to take responsibility for running Iraq, and it’s time for our troops to begin coming home.

This war has now cost the lives of more than 2,500 brave Americans in the armed forces, wounding or maiming tens of thousands more. It has cost $320 billion –- more than $115 billion beyond what we spent in all of World War I.

Each new day of carnage in Iraq makes painfully clear that the Bush Administration’s policy of "stay the course" is not a policy at all –- it is simply a slogan to hide the fact that they have no plan to end the war.

We must choose a different path. That is why I have co-sponsored an amendment along with Senators John Kerry, Russ Feingold, and Barbara Boxer that lays out a clear plan to redeploy American troops out of Iraq and refocus on Al Qaeda and the terrorist networks that most threaten American security.

First, our plan sets a deadline of July 1, 2007, to redeploy U.S. combat troops out of Iraq –- and much sooner, if practical. Only U.S. troops essential to completing the mission of standing up Iraqi security forces, conducting targeted counter-terrorist operations, and protecting U.S. personnel and facilities would remain. Our policy recognizes that Iraq will never be stable while 130,000 U.S. troops remain a magnet for terrorist attacks and fodder for terrorist propaganda to recruit new supporters.

Second, the United States would maintain a military presence in the region to prosecute the war on terror and protect regional security interests. Our plan ensures that we have the forces available to attack Al Qaeda and respond to any challenge we may face, while removing troops from the line of fire in Iraq.

Third, our plan calls on the President, in conjunction with the new Iraqi government, to convene a summit of regional and world leaders to reach a comprehensive political agreement for Iraq that addresses the fundamental needs to stabilize the country –- like federalism, oil revenues, the militias, security guarantees, reconstruction, economic assistance, and border security.

Our troops have done their job. Now it’s time to do ours. It is time to redeploy our troops under a clear timetable –- to help increase stability in Iraq and bolster our own national security by focusing on the real threats we face.

Thank you for your support on this important issue.


Sincerely,

Patrick Leahy
U.S. Senator

P.S. If you agree that we need to choose a different path in Iraq, be sure to forward this message on to your friends!


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