Hoekstra sees potential for substantial troop withdrawal

[Dollface]

Source: Manistee News Advocate

PAKISTAN — Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-- Holland) said he sees the potential for some substantial troop withdrawals from Iraq over the course of the next 18 months, based on what he has saw during his trip to that country, Pakistan and Afghanistan over the past week. Hoekstra said he sees the numbers going beyond what President George Bush stated in his address to the nation last week. He said the troop withdrawal is a trend that he could see continuing at a steady pace.

“I think there will be more than the 20,000 that the president is talking about by next July,” said Hoekstra in a phone interview with the News Advocate. “I think we are ready for a gradual troop withdrawal from Iraq. I would hope and expect that when we get to next March that General (David) Petraeus will want some additional troop withdrawals.” Hoekstra said that it is going to be up to the Iraqi government “to step up to the plate,” and take control of the security of their country.

“It is really the responsibility of the Iraqis to do the final piece,” said Hoekstra. “We can’t pull together the political reconciliation, and these type of things. We are not going to allow American troops to stay there indefinitely, while they do political reconciliation.”

Hoekstra said that the American troops have been training the Iraqi security forces for some time, and they have reached the point where they should be handling those duties instead of the Americans.

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[MichiganVote]

1. How's that campaign plan comin' along Hoekstra?

[Dollface]

2. Seems he is trying to suck in the northern mi independents, both of them.