Kennedy Calls for a Phased Withdrawal From Iraq

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-dems28jan28,1,1960663.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=true
THE CONFLICT IN IRAQ
Kennedy Calls for a Phased Withdrawal From Iraq
U.S. military presence has become part of the problem, senator says. His speech could fuel a growing movement to bring troops home.
By Tyler Marshall and Sonni Efron
Times Staff Writers

January 28, 2005

WASHINGTON — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) called Thursday for a phased U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq, becoming the most prominent member of Congress to advocate a troop pullout since American forces invaded the strife-torn Middle Eastern nation 22 months ago.

Speaking three days before the Iraqi parliamentary elections, Kennedy detailed a plan that called for the immediate pullout of about 10% of American military forces "to send a signal about our intention," followed by a clearly outlined exit strategy.

Kennedy has been a consistent critic of American involvement in Iraq. His speech could help fuel a small but growing movement on Capitol Hill in favor of bringing troops home.

Until recently, politicians from both parties — even those who consider the decision to invade Iraq misguided or the occupation plan shortsighted — have been unanimous that retreat would be irresponsible. Kennedy voiced an alternative view.

"We have reached the point that a prolonged American military presence in Iraq is no longer productive for either Iraq or the United States," Kennedy said at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington. "The U.S. military presence has become part of the problem, not a part of the solution. We need a serious course correction, and we need it now."<snip>

[Inland]

1. Vote NO CONFIDENCE in Bush!

Anything better than disaster in Iraq would take a person of intelligence and perception, like Kerry, and can't be achieved by the idiot who has screwed up every step of the way. We can't win with a leader like Bush. Time to cut our losses by retreating.

[Tigress DEM]

7. We did. 11/02/04. And Kennedy's speech was awesome.

Read it online while I was at work yesterday in between service calls. He didn't pull any punches either.

How about Kennedy for prez and Boxer for VP so she can get that Senate under control?

[paula777]

2. Calls for a phased withdrawal from "Operation Fucking Disaster"

Why don't they just call it that ... OFD. I think it's catchy.

[Tigress DEM]

8. OMG very funny. OFD - least it tells it like it is. n/t

[marcologico]

3. In case there was any question of who is leading the party where

here's the answer.

[kerrygoddess]

4. Exactly!

Senator John Kerry’s "Kids First" Address to Families USA
27 January 2005

Watch John Kerry's Speech Here.

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http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=284


Bring Them Home… “We need to rethink the Pottery Barn rule.”
27 January 2005

(snip)
Senator Ted Kennedy said today in a speech to Johns Hopkins University 's School of Advanced International Studies, that Bush should take steps to negotiate a timetable to begin bringing home the troops, immediately after the Iraqi election.

(snip)
Earlier this week in remarks at the Brookings Institution, Congressman Marty Meehan called for a similar withdrawal of the troops from Iraq. He and Kennedy plan to press Congress for a debate on this in Armed Services committees.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=285

[Disturbed]

5. Hubris and Delusion = Bush Junta b

The Bush Junta pundits are calling Sen. Kennedy all sorts of names for his stand, incl. traitor yet there are Conservatives that agree with him. None are calling them any names. In fact, they are not mentioned.



http://www.counterpunch.org/whitney01272005.html


> January 27, 2005

> Scowcroft and Baker Up the Ante

> The Widening Chasm Among Conservatives
>
> By MIKE WHITNEY
........The deteriorating situation in Iraq has precipitated this very scenario. The rift we allude to, has, in fact, developed into a yawning chasm; pitting one faction of conservative elder statesmen against their antecedents in the Bush administration. This battle of the giants can be expected to grow exponentially as the principle characters clash over the future of the Iraq occupation.


On the one hand, we have perhaps the most widely respected (conservative) policy experts alive today, advising the administration to withdraw from Iraq. Zbigniew Brzezinski, Brent Scowcroft and James Baker have joined the ranks of anti-war Leftists in calling for an immediate withdrawal of all American troops. They have noted the failed attempts by the Bush administration to establish even minimal security or to achieve the overall objectives of the invasion. With Iraq tilting precipitously towards civil war, and with America's prestige irreparably damaged, their protestations should be regarded as an appeal for a return to political sanity.........

The growing chasm between American elites will have no measurable affect on the embattled White House. Already, the administration has announced its intention to keep at least 120,000 troops deployed in Iraq for at least the next three years. This is a clear message to the nay-sayers that their advice has been duly rejected. As Donald Rumsfeld said just recently, "They,ll be no second guessing". The grand-plan to occupy Iraq will continue and the voices of reason will be silenced.

By marginalizing Baker, Scowcroft and Brzezinski the administration is severing relations with their ideological forebears. The project in Iraq is now cut-off from the reasoned analysis of conservative policy experts and is supported only by the hard-right ideology of political extremists. As the ground is increasingly cut away from more and more of the people who might provide some rational relief to the bloodletting; the project becomes more infused with the incendiary rhetoric of religiosity and nationalism. The crusade in Iraq is now propped up by nothing more than the flimsy stanchions of hubris and delusion; the foundation blocks of catastrophe.......

[Tigress DEM]

9. Support Our Troops.... Bring Them Home (Alive)

The thing is I understand why Bush is having such a hard time with this.

It really is difficult to make decisions with your head so far up your own ***.

[Tigress DEM]

10. How can someone speaking the truth in America be called a traitor?

When I read Kennedy's speech I was so relieved. It's like, finally, someone is saying, "Hello, the emperor is buck naked. Get a clue ... and a net."

[marcologico]

6. Memo to infomercial crowd: This is what's known as a "policy." When Howie

comes up with one, let us know.

[RobertKennedyjr]

11. If Iraq will eventually be taken over by insurgents or Saddam loyalists

after the U.S. occupation ends, then we should leave now, but if we can succeed, then we should stay. I think the Iraq government may be taken over by the terrorists, and we have then created nothing more than another terrorist state, while wasting lives and money, and giving Iran, Syria, Saudia Arabia, and North Korea more time to advance their weapons programs.

[marcologico]

12. That makes a lot of sense.

It's hard to know how to measure success though because the objectives have never been very clear or at least credibly stated. I'm not sure whether replacing a Bathist regime with a Shiite cleric regime is such a great thing.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi RobertKennedyjr!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[marcologico]

14. Ditto!

Very fine name!

:toast:
:toast: