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Skriven 2005-11-30 23:33:22 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0511309) for Wed, 2005 Nov 30
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Setting the Record Straight: Democrats On An Artificial Timetable In Iraq
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For Immediate Release
November 30, 2005

Setting the Record Straight: Democrats On An Artificial Timetable In Iraq



Today, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Backed The Call For
Withdrawal Of Troops. "'I will be supporting the Murtha resolution,' Pelosi
said of Murtha's resolution calling for withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq
at the earliest practicable date." ("Pelosi Backs Murtha's Call For
Withdrawal From Iraq," Reuters, 11/30/05)

Today, Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) Reiterated The Call For An
Artificial Timetable. "'We need leadership, and we need a policy on Iraq
that includes a flexible timetable for completing our military mission
there, so that we can focus on our national security priority - defeating
the global terrorist networks that threaten the U.S.' ... In August,
Feingold put forward December 31, 2006 to help jumpstart the discussion of
a target date to complete the military mission there." (Sen. Russell
Feingold, "Statement Of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On The President's
Speech Today," Press Release, 11/30/05)

Representative Murtha (D-PA) Has Said There Must Be An "Immediate
Redeployment Of U.S. Troops." REP. MURTHA: "My plan calls for immediate
redeployment of U.S. troops consistent with the safety of U.S. forces, to
create a quick reaction force in the region, to create an over-the-horizon
presence of Marines, and to diplomatically pursue security and stability in
Iraq." (Rep. Murtha, Press Conference, 11/17/05)

But Artificial Timetables Are "A Recipe For Disaster."

  þ The President Explains Why Timetables For Withdrawal Are Bad Strategy.
    PRES. BUSH: "Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send a
    message across the world that America is a weak and an unreliable ally.
    Setting an artificial deadline to withdraw would send a signal to our
    enemies - that if they wait long enough, America will cut and run and
    abandon its friends. And setting an artificial deadline to withdraw
    would vindicate the terrorists' tactics of beheadings and suicide
    bombings and mass murder - and invite new attacks on America."
    (President Bush, Remarks On The War On Terror, Annapolis, MD, 11/30/05)

  þ Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT): "And, I Am Convinced, Almost All Of The
    Progress In Iraq And Throughout The Middle East Will Be Lost If Those
    Forces Are Withdrawn Faster Than The Iraqi Military Is Capable Of
    Securing The Country." (Sen. Joe Lieberman, Op-Ed, "Our Troops Must
    Stay," The Wall Street Journal, 11/29/05)

  þ Army Major General William Webster Says Setting A Deadline For Troop
    Withdrawal Would Be "A Recipe For Disaster." "A top American commander
    in Iraq on Wednesday denounced calls by some U.S. senators and others
    to set a deadline for a troop withdrawal, calling it 'a recipe for
    disaster' for the 2 1/2 -year-old war." (Ellen Knickmeyer, "General
    Decries Call For Timetable In Iraq," The Washington Post, 11/17/05)

  þ Lt. General John Vines, Commander Of Multinational Corps Iraq:
    "Currently, Although Iraqi Security Forces Are Able To Conduct
    Operations In A Large Portion Of Their Area With Only Limited Or -
    Coalition Support, They Do Require Our Support At This Time. That
    Support Will Be Increasingly Less Over A Period Of Time, But A
    Precipitous Pullout, I Believe, Would Be Destabilizing." (Defense
    Department, Press Briefing, 11/22/05)

  þ Colonel James Brown: "We Need To Stay Here And Finish The Job That We
    Began." COL. BROWN: "Well, certainly, as we support the democracy, our
    forces and coalition forces are going to be the targets of insurgents.
    But as we incubate all of the national elements of power of this young
    democracy, it's necessary for us to be here to provide the security,
    provide the support for the Iraqi security forces to be able to do
    that. I think it would be - in my opinion, and I think it's supportive
    of what's being said is - that our job's not finished. And we need to
    stay here and finish the job that we began. I think the soldiers - my
    soldiers believe that we've made great strides in supporting the
    democracy of Iraq, and I think all those soldiers want to see that job
    finished." (Defense Department, Press Briefing, 11/18/05)

Today, Senator Feingold Said The President's Strategy Reflects "Same Old
'Stay The Course' Way Of Thinking." "In fact the booklet the administration
released to accompany the President's speech is described as a '...document
[that] articulates the broad strategy the President set forth in 2003...'
That alone makes it clear that the President seems more dug in than ever to
the same old 'stay the course' way of thinking." (Sen. Russell Feingold,
"Statement Of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On The President's Speech Today,"
Press Release, 11/30/05)

But, The Strategy For Victory Is Adaptive, And As Iraqi Security Forces
Stand Up The American Mission In Iraq Will Change.

  þ President Bush Says The "Tactics Are Flexible And Dynamic." PRES. BUSH:
    "Some critics continue to assert that we have no plan in Iraq except
    to, 'stay the course.' If by 'stay the course,' they mean we will not
    allow the terrorists to break our will, they are right. If by 'stay the
    course,' they mean we will not permit al Qaeda to turn Iraq into what
    Afghanistan was under the Taliban - a safe haven for terrorism and a
    launching pad for attacks on America - they are right, as well. If by
    'stay the course' they mean that we're not learning from our
    experiences, or adjusting our tactics to meet the challenges on the
    ground, then they're flat wrong. As our top commander in Iraq, General
    Casey, has said, 'Our commanders on the ground are continuously
    adapting and adjusting, not only to what the enemy does, but also to
    try to out-think the enemy and get ahead of him.' Our strategy in Iraq
    is clear, our tactics are flexible and dynamic; we have changed them as
    conditions required and they are bringing us victory against a brutal
    enemy." (President Bush, Remarks On The War On Terror, Annapolis, MD,
    11/30/05)

  þ President Bush Says The Mission Will Change As Iraqi Security Forces
    And The Political Process Advance. PRES. BUSH: "My commanders tell me
    that as Iraqi forces become more capable, the mission of our forces in
    Iraq will continue to change. We will continue to shift from providing
    security and conducting operations against the enemy nationwide, to
    conducting more specialized operations targeted at the most dangerous
    terrorists. We will increasingly move out of Iraqi cities, reduce the
    number of bases from which we operate, and conduct fewer patrols and
    convoys. As the Iraqi forces gain experience and the political process
    advances, we will be able to decrease our troop levels in Iraq without
    losing our capability to defeat the terrorists." (President Bush,
    Remarks On The War On Terror, Annapolis, MD, 11/30/05)

  þ The Administration Is Pursuing A Conditions-Based Strategy. MCCLELLAN:
    "And I expect he'll talk about as the Iraqi security forces increase
    their experience and capability and the Iraqis make progress on the
    political front, then we will be able to reduce the number of our
    troops in Iraq, as well, but that that will be based on conditions on
    the ground. It's a conditions-based approach." (The White House, Press
    Gaggle, 11/29/05)

  þ General Casey: "Condition-Based Reductions Of Coalition Forces Remains
    An Integral Part Of Our Overall Strategy." GEN. CASEY: "I said that
    would - condition-based reductions of coalition forces remains an
    integral part of our overall strategy. And I believe I did say to the
    senator that that still remains possible in 2006." SEN. MCCAIN: "Are
    you planning on troop withdrawals for next year?" GEN. CASEY: "I just
    said that, Senator, yes, I mean -" SEN. MCCAIN: "Yes or no?" GEN.
    CASEY: "Yes, Senator. I do believe that the possibility for troop - for
    condition-based reductions of coalition forces still exists in 2006."
    (Gen. George W. Casey, Committee On Armed Services, U.S. Senate,
    9/29/05)

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