Edwards Statement on General Petraeus Comments

Edwards Statement on General Petraeus Comments
John Edwards for President
Monday, June 18, 2007
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Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Senator John Edwards released the following statement today about General David Petraeus' comments yesterday on "Fox News Sunday" that stabilizing Iraq could take as long as a decade.

"General Petraeus' comments are just the latest example of the Bush Administration's disconnect from the reality on the ground. In order to get the Iraqi people to take responsibility for their country, we must show them that we are serious about leaving, and the best way to do that is to actually start leaving. Instead of talking about keeping our troops in Iraq for another decade, the Administration should begin bringing our troops home to the hero's welcome they deserve.

"The American people have called for a new course in Iraq. It is time to end this war. Congress should correct its mistake and use its constitutional funding power to force an immediate withdrawal of 40-50,000 troops to stop the surge and force the Iraqis and regional powers to find a political solution, and require complete withdrawal of all combat troops within about a year."

http://johnedwards.com/news/headlines/20070618-petraeus-comments/

I might not be in a hurry to get back on my feet. Iraq. Incredible failure. Major wing in bush library.

How many is Edwards planning to leave over there and why? To protect the oil?

From a campaign email to supporters:

When we say complete withdrawal we mean it. No more war. No combat troops in the country. Period. we're also being honest. If John Edwards is president, we're not going to leave the American Embassy in Iraq as the only undefended embassy in the world, for example. There will be Marine guards there, just like there are at our embassies in London, Riyadh, and Tokyo. And just the same, if American civilians are providing humanitarian relief to the Iraqi people, we're going to protect them. How in good conscience could we refuse to protect them and then allow humanitarian workers to be at risk for their lives or the work not to happen at all? Finally, it's also Senator Edwards' position that we will have troops in the region to prevent the sectarian violence in Iraq from spilling over into other countries, for counter-terrorism, or to prevent a genocide. But in the region means in the region - for example, existing bases like Kuwait, naval presence in the Persian Gulf, and so forth. I hope this helps explain Senator Edwards' position. Thanks for standing up for what we all believe in.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/4/11/163117/295

Edwards wants to begin bringing the troops home quickly and he is steadfastly opposed to the construction of permanent bases.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=151739

About halfway through the show Chris Matthews asked Sen. Edwards, “Are you in favor of permanent US military bases in Iraq?”

“Absolutely not.” said Sen. Edwards

http://www.yesh.com/blog/2007/01/14/edwards-and-permanent-military-bases-in-iraq/

His position is essentially the same as Richardson's.

See ya, wouldn't want to be ya.

what are the other candidates saying?

anything?

Ed Schultz: General Petraeus says stabilizing Iraq could take as long as a decade. You agree with that?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Yes. I do. I think it could, and that's only if we do the kind of diplomacy and political work that needs to be done and we can resolve the issue of Iran and the Palestinians and the Israelis. And all that is interconnected and basically bubbling along out of control.

Ed Schultz: Well, then this surge talk was really window dressing, General. Is that fair to say?

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, the surge talk was about troops and tactics, and what we should've been talking about was strategy and policy.

http://securingamerica.com/node/2488

Also, Clark has been speaking out against permanent bases in Iraq for years. When he says it's going to likely take a decade to stabilize the country WITH the appropriate diplomatic and political efforts, he isn't saying it to get votes.

It's not a very happy smiley joy-joy message, is it?

The diaster the neocons have created is even more serious than most people comprehend, and it can't be solved as simply or in the time frame some politicians who desperately want your vote would like you to believe.