I just got this reply from Ken Salazar after I emailed him, asking him to push for binding resolutions against the war, and defunding of the war.
Dear Mr. Meldroc:
Thank you for thoughtful comments on the war in Iraq. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me.
U.S. forces have now been in Iraq for over three years. While I certainly disagree with the way this war has been managed by the Bush Administration and believe we need a new direction in Iraq, I also believe we owe it to both the Iraqi people and our troops to continue working toward stabilizing the country.
In order for the Iraqi government to succeed, however, the Iraqis themselves need to assume responsibility for the country’s security, and both Americans and Iraqis need to recognize that the U.S. military presence will not continue indefinitely.
I oppose the President's plan to send more troops to Iraq. I do not believe his plan will help us achieve the security that is needed there, and I have co-sposored two Senate resolutions expressing opposition to it. Escalating our involvement with an increase in the number of troops in Iraq will further strain our own military and reduce our ability to fight a global war on terror.
I was reassured that the Iraq Study Group recognized the need for establishing clear benchmarks that must be met by the Iraqis in order to maintain U.S. support. I agree with the group's conclusion that we need to end the days of an open-ended U.S. troop commitment, and I believe the ISG report is right to call for a shift in the primary U.S. military mission in Iraq to one of supporting and equipping Iraqi forces. In addition, I concur with the group's recommendation for a steady reduction in the numbers of American forces on the ground.
I do not support an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops at this time, nor do I believe that arbitrary timelines for withdrawal are helpful. U.S. forces need to continue in their efforts to train the Iraqi security services and to conduct targeted counter-terrorism operations. I do believe, however, that a redeployment strategy marked by flexible, attainable benchmarks is the only path to a stable, secure, and democratic Iraq.
Toward that end, I co-sponsored an amendment last year to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) calling for the President to lay out a distinct plan for the phased redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq. This amendment set no specific timeline for removing U.S. troops, and it did not address the speed or pace of redeployment. As I stated before, I do not believe a rigid timeline would be wise or effective.
In the end, I sincerely hope that we can all join together in this effort to support our troops by bringing them home safely to their families and loved ones. We owe them and the Iraqi people a policy worthy of the sacrifices they have made.
Again, thank you for writing.
Sincerely,
Ken Salazar
United States Senator
Hmmm. I think Congress needs more pressure, don't you?
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