Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Edwards Calls for Quick End to Training Effort in Iraq (Today)

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU
 
elizm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-02-08 11:12 AM
Original message
Edwards Calls for Quick End to Training Effort in Iraq (Today)
Edited on Wed Jan-02-08 11:43 AM by elizm
Still 'evolving' I guess.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/us/politics/02edwards.html?ref=washington

Over the past five years, Mr. Edwards’s position on Iraq has undergone a substantial evolution. In 2002, as a senator, Mr. Edwards was among the Democrats who voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq. Mr. Edwards has said he was convinced by the intelligence that Saddam Hussein controlled stocks of unconventional weapons, but in the Senate speech explaining his vote he also endorsed the Bush administration’s argument that a new democratic Iraq “could serve as a model for the entire Arab world.”

In November 2005, Mr. Edwards wrote an op-ed article for The Washington Post entitled “The Right Way in Iraq,” in which he argued that his earlier vote to authorize the use of force in Iraq was a mistake, while making the point that it was still important to provide American troops with “a way to end their mission honorably.”

Toward this end, Mr. Edwards called at the time for establishing a more effective program to train Iraqi troops and channeling reconstruction work to Iraqis instead of American contractors. While he called for removing a significant number of American forces, he also emphasized that the withdrawals should be “a gradual process.”

“That will still leave us with enough military capability, combined with better-trained Iraqis, to fight terrorists and continue to help the Iraqis develop a stable country,” he wrote.

In the interview on Sunday, Mr. Edwards said that he decided on his current plan for a rapid and near-total withdrawal of American troops because of the failure of Iraqi leaders to achieve a political accommodation over the past four years. Eight to 10 brigades, which is likely to be the bulk of the American combat force by the time the next president takes office, would immediately be withdrawn.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Benhurst Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-02-08 11:19 AM
Response to Original message
1. I hope he and the rest of our candidates are continuing to do so.
Come November I would like to have a candidate I can support with no reservations.

Restore the Republic! End the illegal and immoral occupation of Iraq! Single-payer universal health care now! Indict Bush/Cheney et al for their war crimes!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
rodeodance Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-02-08 11:20 AM
Response to Original message
2. sure he is still evolving---no problem with that. I like the direction of his evolution! go john
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
elizm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-02-08 11:27 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. In August debate in Des Moines, Edwards had a different position...
I wonder how closely the Iowans are listening and if it matters to them?

Democrats Say Leaving Iraq May Take Years
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/us/politics/12dems.html
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
cali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-02-08 11:31 AM
Response to Reply #2
4. I think of it as an election conversion rather than
an honest evolution of political thought.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
elizm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jan-02-08 11:40 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. 83% of Iowan Democrats favor complete withdrawal in 6 months..
Do you think this recent poll (12/18)out of Iowa might be the reason for the 'conversion', 'evolution', or whatever??

http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/iowa_poll_122107.htm

6. Do you favor a withdrawal of all United States military from Iraq within the next six months? (Democrats Only)
Yes 83%
No 6%
Undecided 11%
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Thu Oct 31st 2024, 06:44 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion: Presidential (Through Nov 2009) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC