Kerry: Senate Democrats United Behind Iraq Deadline Plan

[ProSense]

March 8, 2007

Kerry: Senate Democrats United Behind Iraq Deadline Plan

Kerry praises move toward deadline for redeploying combat troops

WASHINGTON D.C. – Sen. John Kerry offered the following statement today in response to the announcement from Democratic leaders that they are offering legislation that sets a deadline for the deployment of US troops from Iraq.

“This plan is a critical step forward for our country, and the brave men and women of our armed forces who have been waiting for Washington to provide a clear plan forward in Iraq. Last June, 12 senators joined me in voting to set a deadline for redeployment of American combat troops from Iraq.

Now we can all stand united behind an exit strategy that includes the deadline we need to get the Iraqis to stand up for Iraq and bring American combat troops home. I’m pleased that today’s solution is built on the premise of the legislation we offered last year: that there is no military solution to this conflict and any successful strategy must include a deadline combined with diplomatic, political and economic steps that get Iraqis to make the compromises needed for stability.”

[babylonsister]

1. Set. A. Deadline!! Rec'd. nt

[Ninja Jordan]

2. Shit or get off the pot

Pull out now or let US troops continue their activities indefinitely. Setting a deadline doesn't do anything. Insurgents will merely wait it out until Fall of '08--then reemerge.

[Mass]

6. So you agree with Bush?

Because it is what he says.

The Democrats in the Senate, however, are united behind this resolution.

I would not mind, for my part, that the troops leave earlier than that, but it seems there is a large consensus on this issue among most Democrats, including all the three major presidential candidates.

[Ninja Jordan]

11. Bush agrees with withdrawing immediately?

Please don't be smarmy.

[Mass]

13. well, I am all for withdrawing the troops now, if you can find people who will vote for that.

Unfortunately, the fact that Feingold agrees with this proposal as a good step seems to say that this is the best that the Democrats can agree on. And, yes, a deadline to withdraw the troops is necessary is offered by everybody, whether it is 6 months (Woosley, that I favor), one year: like this proposal offers, though it would have been better if voted last year, of course, as the troops would be out by now, or the House bill , whose ultimate deadline is fall 2008.

This proposal is not as good as Woosley as it starts to withdraw the troops in 4 months, but it is already a great step forward in withdrawing the troops (that is, assuming it can pass the Senate and not be vetoed, wich is less than ideal).

[PresidentObama]

7. Pulling out everybody now and letting them stay are equally dangerous.

You have to redeploy the troops in a responsible manner, which the Set A Deadline plan does. In any scenario, we'll see flaws. But we can't escape that at all.

[Ninja Jordan]

redeployment should start now, not in a year and a half.

Shit or get off the pot. Why waste more American lives between now and the Fall 2008 deadline? Start redeploying now or let the troops stay indefinitely. Setting a deadline a year and a half away does nothing to help them.

[Mass]

15. Have you even read the proposal Kerry is speaking about.

It ask for all troops out in March 2008, and a withdrawal starting this summer.

Yes, it would be better if they started now and did not wait until this summer, but it is certainly NOT what you say.

http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=270337&

. It contains binding language to direct the President to transition the mission for U.S. forces in Iraq and begin their phased redeployment within one-hundred twenty days with a goal of redeploying all combat forces by March 31, 2008.

[PresidentObama]

16. Have you EVEN read the Set A Deadline legislation?

Where are you getting this year and a half?

[Mass]

17. I think some people do not realize this release relates to the Senate proposal and not the House

proposal (in addition of not understanding the house proposal in this case).

[PresidentObama]

3. He's always impressed me. But ever since his announcement...

....he wasn't running, Senator Kerry has been VERY impressive and VERY strong. I've known since he announced it, that the Set A Deadline plan was the only way to go. It's our best shot at success in redeploying combat troops, and bringing an end to this tragic war.

K&R

:kick:

[rodeodance]

4. more MONTHS and MONTHS of troops being blown to BITS! while congres

puts and puts

[PresidentObama]

5. And what do you think we should do? n/t

[mloutre]

8. well, Molly had an answer to that question:

(An answer in the form of a call to action that she penned in her final weeks of life -- never go down not fighting, she always said...)

"We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there. Hit the streets to protest Bush's proposed surge. We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, 'Stop it, now!'

[blm]

9. It's all he and Feingold can get with so many Dems afraid of withdrawal.

If it was up to Kerry-Feingold and 11 other senators, many of the troops would be home by now with the rest back by July.

[dionysus]

14. spot on

n/t

[Mass]

10. Well, if this had a chance to pass a senate filibuster and a presidential veto

it would already be a great progress compared to the status quo. Of course, it would be better if the troops started to withdraw NOW, but this resolution starts to bring the troops home in 4 months and end in one year.

This is certainly a huge progress given that less than one year ago, most the Senate Democrats were not even ready to vote for something like that.

Unfortunately, this is not passing a filibuster, which means that you are right, there will be many more months with soldiers killed in Iraq.

[Clarkie1]

12. Unfortunately, it probably won't be veto proof. nt

[ProSense]

18. "We have to have the fight."

It isn’t over, as Senator Kerry said in a recent aduio interview:

This President will veto whatever it is we do, but we have to have the fight and we have to have to do everything in our power to be able to change the attitude of people in the country and the debate, hopefully, sharpens the arguments and gives people a sense of what's really at stake.

"We have to have the fight." It’s time to work on the Senators on the other side of the aisle. Give them a call.

[Dahlen Kirkmuller]

19. I see alot of Democrats

Not being happy with the Iraq withdrawal plan cause the troop aren't being pulled idmeately, I have to say this to all of you...it's a start. Atleast with the Democrats in power we can start talking about a plan, we can start talking about withdrawal, it's a start and an excellent start. I just want to point out that if the Republicans were still in power, there would be NO plan for withdrawal no, Boehner and McConnell would just keep the "stay the course" reteric and the Republicans would go own as business as usual, limiting rights on abortions and trying to pass a constiutional admendment banning gay marriage.

I sure as hell don't want to go back to those days, alot of bad memories

[ProSense]

20. Welcome! The conversation has been going on for more than a year.

I'm glad the Dems are now unified around a deadline.

[Dahlen Kirkmuller]

21. Thank you for the warm welcome

And now when any Congressional Republican or Faux News Talking Head says the Democrats have no plans, no bonafide genuine plan we can now call bullshit on there behalves.

[w4rma]

22. Amend it to the funding bill and then we're good. (nt)

[ProSense]

23. Experts' predictions on

Iraq