Democrats Unite on Iraq Withdrawal Demands
By Bill Brubaker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 31, 2006; 6:43 PM
Twelve Democratic leaders of the House and Senate have urged President Bush in a strongly worded letter to begin withdrawing the 130,000 U.S. troops from Iraq by year's end, a sign that Democrats may be uniting on a key election-year issue that has divided the party.
"U.S. troops and taxpayers continue to pay a high price as your Administration searches for a policy" in Iraq, said the letter, signed by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), and 10 other party leaders.
"Over 2,500 Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice and over 18,000 others have been wounded," the letter said. "The Iraq war has also strained our military and constrained our ability to deal with other challenges."
Bush's "open-ended commitment" to Iraq should be abandoned, the letter asserted, in the interest of "American national security, our troops, and our taxpayers."
The three-year-old war has cost the United States more than $300 billion so far, and the tab is growing by $3 billion every week, the Democratic leaders wrote.
"We believe that a phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq should begin before the end of 2006," the letter said.
Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman said in a statement early this evening that the Democrats' withdrawal strategy will "embolden the enemy, encourage more terrorism, and make America less secure."
Mehlman added that the Democrats' letter "underscores the critical choice facing the American people in November: In the face of jihadist attacks on civilians in Baghdad, Mumbai, and northern Israel, Democrat leaders propose to cut-and-run from the central front in the War on Terror."
Bush has often said troop levels will determined by U.S. commanders on the ground and that U.S. troops will remain in Iraq until that nation can defend itself. Most Republican members of Congress agree with Bush's position.
The letter to Bush suggests that Democratic leaders have overcome divisions in how to respond to the growing cost of military operations in Iraq. Last November, Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), a decorated war veteran, called for an immediate pullout, but his position was criticized by some members of his own party. Other Democrats, including Reid and Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) , have called for a phased pullout.
But last month 42 House Democrats joined a virtually united Republican House majority in voting to back Bush's policies in Iraq.
The letter released today--also signed by Murtha and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (Md.)--does not spell out a timetable for a complete withdrawal from Iraq.
Instead, it suggests that by year's end U.S. forces "transition to a more limited mission focused on counterterrorism, training and logistical support of Iraqi security forces and force protection of U.S. personnel."
Bush had hoped to withdraw some troops from Iraq by the end of the year. But with sectarian violence growing, Bush said last week he would send more troops and equipment to Baghdad as part of a new strategy. The additional U.S. forces, which could total in the thousands, would come from elsewhere in Iraq.
"Obviously, the violence in Baghdad is still terrible, and therefore there needs to be more troops," Bush said at a White House news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Public opinion polls show the Iraq war is unpopular among most Americans. With mid-term elections three months away, Democrats are hoping to make the war an issue that sets their party apart from Republicans.
"Mr. President, simply staying the course in Iraq is not working," the Democrats' letter to Bush said. "We need to take a new direction."
© 2006 The Washington Post Company
By Bill Brubaker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 31, 2006; 6:43 PM
Twelve Democratic leaders of the House and Senate have urged President Bush in a strongly worded letter to begin withdrawing the 130,000 U.S. troops from Iraq by year's end, a sign that Democrats may be uniting on a key election-year issue that has divided the party.
"U.S. troops and taxpayers continue to pay a high price as your Administration searches for a policy" in Iraq, said the letter, signed by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), and 10 other party leaders.
"Over 2,500 Americans have made the ultimate sacrifice and over 18,000 others have been wounded," the letter said. "The Iraq war has also strained our military and constrained our ability to deal with other challenges."
Bush's "open-ended commitment" to Iraq should be abandoned, the letter asserted, in the interest of "American national security, our troops, and our taxpayers."
The three-year-old war has cost the United States more than $300 billion so far, and the tab is growing by $3 billion every week, the Democratic leaders wrote.
"We believe that a phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq should begin before the end of 2006," the letter said.
Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman said in a statement early this evening that the Democrats' withdrawal strategy will "embolden the enemy, encourage more terrorism, and make America less secure."
Mehlman added that the Democrats' letter "underscores the critical choice facing the American people in November: In the face of jihadist attacks on civilians in Baghdad, Mumbai, and northern Israel, Democrat leaders propose to cut-and-run from the central front in the War on Terror."
Bush has often said troop levels will determined by U.S. commanders on the ground and that U.S. troops will remain in Iraq until that nation can defend itself. Most Republican members of Congress agree with Bush's position.
The letter to Bush suggests that Democratic leaders have overcome divisions in how to respond to the growing cost of military operations in Iraq. Last November, Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), a decorated war veteran, called for an immediate pullout, but his position was criticized by some members of his own party. Other Democrats, including Reid and Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) , have called for a phased pullout.
But last month 42 House Democrats joined a virtually united Republican House majority in voting to back Bush's policies in Iraq.
The letter released today--also signed by Murtha and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (Md.)--does not spell out a timetable for a complete withdrawal from Iraq.
Instead, it suggests that by year's end U.S. forces "transition to a more limited mission focused on counterterrorism, training and logistical support of Iraqi security forces and force protection of U.S. personnel."
Bush had hoped to withdraw some troops from Iraq by the end of the year. But with sectarian violence growing, Bush said last week he would send more troops and equipment to Baghdad as part of a new strategy. The additional U.S. forces, which could total in the thousands, would come from elsewhere in Iraq.
"Obviously, the violence in Baghdad is still terrible, and therefore there needs to be more troops," Bush said at a White House news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Public opinion polls show the Iraq war is unpopular among most Americans. With mid-term elections three months away, Democrats are hoping to make the war an issue that sets their party apart from Republicans.
"Mr. President, simply staying the course in Iraq is not working," the Democrats' letter to Bush said. "We need to take a new direction."
© 2006 The Washington Post Company
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