New Democratic Strategy Calls For March 2008 Pullout

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Senate Democrats are backing a pullout of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of March, 2008 – a deadline similar to that recommended recently by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, according to Democratic insiders.

The March 31, 2008, deadline is included in a new authorization resolution for the U.S. military campaign in Iraq, where President Bush plans to send another 21,500 U.S. troops to help quell the violence there.

The resolution is being drafted by Democratic Sens. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware and Carl Levin of Michigan, chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees. The pair is working closely with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in crafting their proposal, which they plan to unveil early next week.

The new resolution would restrict U. S. military efforts in Iraq to training and logistical support for the Iraqi army, counter-terrorism operations and securing the Iraqi borders, especially with Iran and Syria, said the Democratic insiders, who would speak only on the condition of anonymity as the drafting proceeds.

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"We are going to be very measured in how we approach this," said one top Democratic strategist. "We will do nothing to endanger our troops in the field, but we will continue turning up the heat on Bush to end the war. We will go step-by-step, day-by-day, until we get there."

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