Kerry calls for troop withdrawal in NYTimes OpEd

[TayTay]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/opinion/05kerry.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

The Iraqis need to get serious and form a government by May15th or we withdraw our troops starting on that date.

Full troop withdrawal by the end of the year, even if the Iraqis do form a coalition government.

There is a lot of good stuff in there. This is not some abstract benchmark that he is talking about, but either you do this or we stop supporting you with a troop presence. If you do this, then we can withdraw in 8 months.

[wicket]

1. K & R

:kick:

[Jeffersons Ghost]

2. K&R you go Big John

Big John
Big John

Every mornning at the mine, you could see him arrive.
He stood 6 foot 6, weighed 245.
Kind of broad at the shoulders, narrow at the hip.
And everybody knew you didn't give no lip to Big John.

[whometense]

3. !!!!!!

This is great.

[TayTay]

6. People were complaining about the 'benchmarks'

and that they were too abstract and too loose.

Well, this one's not abstract or loose. Do this by May 15th or we leave. If the Iraqis do get it together, great, then we start to leave anyway and plan on being out by the end of the year.

Not abstract at all.

[rodeodance]

16. this moves the withdraw date upfront!--

[_dynamicdems]

27. If somebody had paid attention to those benchmarks, we'd be OUT of

Iraq by now. That's what is so sad. Senator Kerry must be really pissed off right about now. He's certainly not mincing words. When he decides to take action, it is always bold. I can't wait to see the fireworks tomorrow.

[wisteria]

28. I totally agree with you on this. Common sense effective ideas that were

not utilized.

[kerrygoddess]

32. Big John!

Haven't heard that for while!

[WildEyedLiberal]

4. Withdrawal by MAY 15TH

THIS is what we've been waiting for - REAL LEADERSHIP, and who better to deliver than JK?

:kick:

[rodeodance]

13. whow. just in time for May flowers

[Noisy Democrat]

5. Awesome

I love it that he's setting a tough deadline and urging us to tell the Iraqis to get their s*** together or else.

[Island Blue]

7. This spells it out simply and beautifully.

Brilliant!

[Luftmensch067]

8. He talks like someone who's really seen war up close and personal

And you can tell that he cares more about the lives of our troops than anything else. This is a great op-ed!!

[ProSense]

9. Home before Memorial Day! n/t

[rodeodance]

12. Two Deadlines and an Exit is the title.

[rodeodance]

10. "As our generals have said, the war cannot be won militarily."---tell this

tot the shrills who insist we HAVE won.


April 5, 2006
Op-Ed Contributor
Two Deadlines and an Exit
By JOHN F. KERRY

Washington

WE are now in the third war in Iraq in as many years. The first was against Saddam Hussein and his supposed weapons of mass destruction. The second was against terrorists whom, the administration said, it was better to fight over there than here. Now we find our troops in the middle of an escalating civil war.

Half of the service members listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall died after America's leaders knew our strategy would not work. It was immoral then and it would be immoral now to engage in the same delusion. We want democracy in Iraq, but Iraqis must want it as much as we do. Our valiant soldiers can't bring democracy to Iraq if Iraq's leaders are unwilling themselves to make the compromises that democracy requires.

As our generals have said, the war cannot be won militarily. It must be won politically. No American soldier should be sacrificed because Iraqi politicians refuse to resolve their ethnic and political differences.

So far, Iraqi leaders have responded only to deadlines — a deadline to transfer authority to a provisional government, and a deadline to hold three elections.

[madame defarge]

11. Cross posts...

http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/2006/04/john_kerry_sets.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2551947
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x844711
edited to add http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/4/225747/5243

[Sensitivity]

14. Question continues to be whether Party will follow Kerry into 2006

campaign or continue the current consensus management approach to leading an opposition
against the Pukes.

[rodeodance]

15. those middle people seem not to budge and inch.

[TayTay]

18. There are points in there that would be at home in a Murtha post

Kerry is looking at the broken military and repeating what he and what Cong. Murtha said last fall when they echoed Gen. Casey's remarks that this war can't be won militarily, they need a political solution.

Well, this sounds like a good incentive to get that political solution up and running now or else.

[karynnj]

17. Real brilliant plan - either one last ditch political effort

or recgnize that it's a civil war. If it's a civil war, what will our soldiers be dying for.

[ray of light]

19. k and r!!!

[globalvillage]

20. I'm sending this to my rep

and telling him to back this plan. My Senators are useless repugs, but I'm sending it to them, too.
This is awesome!!!

[politicasista]

21. Kick and Recommend!

:kick:

[karendc]

23. Yes, please

send the article far and wide.

[rockymountaindem]

22. This is great, and it clears up something I think we've all been wondering

Kerry was the man who said in 1971 "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a lie?" We've been wondering why he hasn't been thinking in those terms re: the Iraq war. I think this op-ed clears that up, as it indicates that he previously has believed that we could at least affect some kind of positive change in Iraq. Now, however, it seems that Kerry, like most of us, is fed up with the Iraqi leadership and realizes that if they don't pull it together, all is for naught.

This is a great piece, but too bad this plan will never be put into action. After all, that other President who Bush said would get us out of this mess hasn't been sworn in yet :eyes:

[TayTay]

24. Hey, Condiliar Rice is testifying tomorrow at the

Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (Kerry is a member of that Committee.) If Condi doesn't cancel, I wonder if this might come up?

[karynnj]

25. Fireworks!!!!

She was a nervous wreck when he 's grilled her in the past - I doubt she will appreciate this now!

[WildEyedLiberal]

26. Kick!

Recommend this if you haven't, folks! Bring 'em home!!

[kerrygoddess]

29. Bullets point from the OP/ED

If a unity government is formed, Kerry says, “we must agree upon a schedule for withdrawing American combat forces by the end of this year — 2006.

This will empower the new Iraqi leadership, get Iraqis to run their country, and undermine support for the insurgency among the 80% of Iraqis who want us to leave.

John Kerry’s plan offers a responsible military and diplomatic transition for Iraq.

• U.S. troops critical to finishing the job of training Iraqi forces will remain in the country.
• American Special Operations forces will be redeployed to garrisoned status for security back up, training and emergency response.
• The U.S. will immediately bring the leaders of the Iraqi factions together at a Dayton Accords-like summit that includes our allies, the Arab League and the U.N..

o At this summit, the Iraqis will be made to reach a political agreement that includes security guarantees, disbanding the militias and reconstruction efforts.

Kerry’s plan for Iraq focuses on how to make America more secure at home and around the world.

• We will defeat Al Qaeda faster when we stop serving as their best recruitment tool.
• Iraq will not be the breeding ground for terrorism that Afghanistan was because Iraqis ultimately will not tolerate foreign jihadists on their soil.
• Leaving Iraq will strengthen our hand in addressing the nuclear threat from Iran.
• Leaving Iraq will allow us to repair the damage flag officers fear has been done to our armed forces.

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2527

[Old and In the Way]

30. Wow, way to go John Kerry!

About time we put a real timetable down. We've lost 2300+ and incurred tens of thousands of permanently injured. We've burned through $300BB....and we have nothing to show for this obscene elective war. I hope Sen. Kerry leads the investigation into war profiteering that fueled this disaster.

This is just what the Republicans want to see now...Democrats demanding Republicans go on the record on this proposal. We deserve to see this debated in Congress.

[oasis]

31. Democrats have ideas. Let the MSM start singing a different tune. nt

[flpoljunkie]

37. Has his letter even been mentioned by the talking heads this morning?

[oasis]

38. No. "Democrats are distancing themselves from Mckinney" is their news

assignment for the week. It's more improtant to show Democrats in disarray in order to even the playing field for the upcoming elections.

Corporate media gotta make them bucks.

[ProSense]

33. Kerry Offers A Democratic Ultimatum On Iraq

Tuesday :: Apr 4, 2006

Kerry Offers A Democratic Ultimatum On Iraq

by Steve Soto

Kerry http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/opinion/05kerry.html">sticks his neck out on Iraq tonight:

So far, Iraqi leaders have responded only to deadlines — a deadline to transfer authority to a provisional government, and a deadline to hold three elections.
Now we must set another deadline to extricate our troops and get Iraq up on its own two feet.

Iraqi politicians should be told that they have until May 15 to put together an effective unity government or we will immediately withdraw our military. If Iraqis aren't willing to build a unity government in the five months since the election, they're probably not willing to build one at all. The civil war will only get worse, and we will have no choice anyway but to leave.

Snip...

This, coupled with Murtha’s redeployment proposal and Condi’s assurance today that there will not be permanent bases in Iraq beyond their ability to sustain their own security needs can be the basis for the Democrats’ policy on Iraq. Both Murtha and Kerry are approaching Iraq with an eye towards not repeating our Vietnam mistakes again. Setting a time-limited commitment reflects the views of more and more Americans, while telling the Iraqis that they have to demonstrate a commitment to self-governance quickly, which is exactly the message Rice gave to the Iraqis herself this weekend. The only difference is that the Bush Administration doesn't have the guts to publicly say what the consequences would be if the Iraqis keep stringing us along. At least Kerry says the obvious.

http://www.theleftcoaster.com/archives/007286.php

[beachmom]

34. I wholeheartedly support this plan!

This needed to be said. I would like to see a lot of Democrats start backing this plan or Murtha's plan -- I think the Democrats may start to unite on this, while it will be the Republicans who start to split up on the Iraq War. Excellent Op-ed, Senator!

[underpants]

35. Sounds like what Murtha proposed (I like it)

To increase the pressure on Iraq's leaders, we must redeploy American forces to garrisoned status. Troops should be used for security backup, training and emergency response; we should leave routine patrols to Iraqi forces. Special operations against Al Qaeda and other foreign terrorists in Iraq should be initiated only on hard intelligence leads.

[flpoljunkie]

36. John Kerry: "We must finally begin to engage in genuine diplomacy."

The Bushistas have resisted diplomacy mightily--not willing to "share their prize." There is no reason to think they would do otherwise, although Kerry has written an eloquent and clear path to get us out of Iraq. The best they can do is to send Condi and Jack to Baghdad to beg the Iraqis to put together their government as soon as possible. Did they give them deadline? Not that we know of.

How long will it take for others in the Democratic party to disavow what Kerry has so eloquently put forth today?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/opinion/05kerry.html?...

[grytpype]

39. Bush can't credibly threaten to withdraw because...

... he can't afford to let Iraq fail worse than it already has.

And the Shiites know it.

So threatening to withdraw would be worthess, like Bush says he has to stay in until he wins or he hands the mess off to a future president in 2009. The latter being much more likely.

[Canuckistanian]

40. It's a double incentive fro Iraqi leaders, too

They'll finally be motivated to find a solution and hold those all-party meetings to avoid deepening the civil war AND they'll be getting rid of a now hated occupier.

[smoogatz]

41. Now THAT's what I'm talking about.

Actual leadership. Imagine. Major points for Kerry on this one, IMO.

[babylonsister]

42. Absolutely! Another Dem voice is shouting; who's listening? nt

[WildEyedLiberal]

43. Come on, DU, show your support for getting OUT of Iraq!

Recommend this thread if you haven't already!

[Pierzin]

48. how do you recommend a Thread?

[WildEyedLiberal]

51. Hi, welcome to DU

There's a small black link at the bottom of the original post that says "recommend this topic" or something. Click it and voila! :hi: Welcome to DU!

[WildEyedLiberal]

44. Kicky kick

:kick:

[WildEyedLiberal]

45. Attention admins:

This really deserves to be on the home page, don't you think?

[ProSense]

46. Debate in Congress over Iraq war grows louder

Posted on Wed, Apr. 05, 2006

Debate in Congress over Iraq war grows louder

By Steven Thomma, Tim Funk and James Kuhnhenn
Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - If Congress ever turns against the war in Iraq, analysts may look back at this week as a turning point.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., on Wednesday urged setting a May 15 deadline to withdraw U.S. troops unless Iraq forms a unity government, and even if Iraq does form a government, Kerry urged complete American withdrawal by year's end. His twin-deadline proposal makes the 2004 presidential nominee the most prominent Democrat pushing for early full withdrawal.

At the same time, three Republicans in the House of Representatives endorsed a resolution calling for a robust and lengthy congressional debate on Iraq. While they're far short of the votes needed to force such a debate, a coalition of 40 anti-war activist groups is mounting a national campaign to drum up public pressure behind the resolution. That campaign targets lawmakers as they head home for a two-week Easter recess to listen to constituents in this election year, when Republicans are already anxious that they might lose control of Congress in November.

Grassroots America is sour on Iraq, polls show, and residents of 24 Wisconsin towns gave more proof of that this week by voting for resolutions urging immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops, while voters in eight towns rejected such a call.

more...

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/14271819.htm

[Pierzin]

47. Thank You for Being A Decent Human Being, JK

I just heard Senator Kerry on the Randi Rhodes show, and I wish he could have been on longer. What a difference world we would have if only he were president!! My God! When are the Pukes going to be held accountable? And when are people going to protest in the streets???
Thank you, everyone!

[ProSense]

55. Thank you and welcome.

There are also audio clips posted on DU of his interviews on the Al Franken and Ed Schultz shows. Great stuff!

[Scott Lee_]

49. Finally.

This is the sort of John Kerry we needed in the '04 elections.

Oh well. Maybe this will be another damned LEARNING experience.

[flaminbats]

52. wow...he actually wants my primary vote next time!?!

I voted for Kerry not only because Big John was our nominee, but I knew he would come around on this issue..regardless of how he did in the election :thumbsup:

[Jeffersons Ghost]

50. if you want to meet a future war protester, look under a helmet.

[WildEyedLiberal]

58. Yessir - IVAW

Iraq Veterans Against the War - the torch has been passed from VVAW on down. When will presidents stop sending our soldiers to war for lies?

[occuserpens]

53. Kerry on the exit plans

Revised
2006-04-05 Kerry on the exit plans

[ProSense]

54. A short memory always results in bad conclusions

If people really paid attention, Bush's reality would still be confined to a ranch in Crawford.


John Kerry: “Security in a Dangerous World” (March 2006)

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2133



12/08/2005

Senator John Kerry Delivers Speech on War on Terror

Real Security in the Post 9/11 World

http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/record.cfm?id=249580&



10/26/2005

Senator John Kerry Lays Out Path Forward in Iraq

http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/record.cfm?id=247764&

[ProSense]

56. Link on Yahoo

http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20060405/cm_huffpost/018502

[ProSense]

57. Deadline: 36 days. Bush needs to quit stalling. n/t

[ProSense]

59. Majority of Americans want number of troops in Iraq decreased.