BG on Kerry

[Mass]

Good thing that I dont have a Globe subscription - I will not be able to cancel it.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/10/27/democratic_leaders_offer_a_national_security_plan/

Democratic leaders offer a national security plan
Proposal aims for reduction of troops in Iraq

By Nina J. Easton, Globe Staff | October 27, 2005

WASHINGTON -- A year after failing to convince most voters that Democrats can protect the United States, party leaders yesterday issued the outlines of a new national security message built on plans to reduce US troops in Iraq and sharply increase security spending at home.

In his first major foreign policy address since losing his White House bid, Senator John F. Kerry called on President Bush to bring home 20,000 US troops from Iraq after the country votes on a National Assembly in December, adding that ''the goal should be to withdraw the bulk of American combat forces by the end of next year."

''We must move aggressively to reduce popular support for the insurgency fed by the perception of American occupation," Kerry said.

But later, during a question and answer session, Kerry resisted comparisons to the Vietnam War, and said he told US troops in Iraq that ''their cause is noble" in risking their lives as Iraq stumbles toward democracy.

Within the Democratic Party, lawmakers to the left of Kerry and Albright have called for more immediate action to end the US presence in Iraq.