Iowa Republican Rep. Leach Questions Iraq Policy

[better2know]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=12&u=/nm/iraq_usa_leach_dc

bold type is my addition

Iowa Republican Rep. Jim Leach, once an aide to now-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, said on Tuesday White House policy-makers had made one of the most misguided assumptions ever in U.S. strategy by not planning for a decisive withdrawal from Iraq.

He said the administration of President Bush (news - web sites) was on a "slow slog" in Iraq, instead of announcing a "decisive" withdrawal of U.S. military forces by the end of next year.

"If we stay longer, we are going to have more, not fewer, problems in Iraq, and ... consequently more problems around the world and potentially in the United States as well," Leach said.

"The longer we are there, the more we are going to be targets for their actions and we're setting ourselves up for a rationalization for anarchy and for terrorism against American interests around the world," he added.

An honest voice is like a beacon in the wilderness.

I can almost cry hearing this from an elected official.

I don't know what his other positions are, but I'm sure glad to hear this one.

[Wapsie B]

1. Leach is a repug I can respect.

We need more like him in DC. Trouble is when I look at the new repugs running for office I don't know who've been bought out by the right-wingers and who hasn't. So unless I'm pretty familiar with the candidate, I'm voting Democrat all the way. It's just too risky this day and age to do otherwise.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Ok this is impressive

he is BREAKING with the PARTY LINE...

Ok that is a man I can respect... it takes cajones to do that.

[neuvocat]

3. Leach really went after Clinton

during the Lewinsky scandal. I'm not beating up on the guy, just pointing out that for someone like him to criticize Bush is to see just how things have gotten out of hand.

[joeunderdog]

4. He didn't say we shouldn't have gone in.

Leaving that mess the way it is won't solve anything either. We have to give control to the UN and work with them to restore order in Iraq and rebuild our diplomatic connections.

[davidinalameda]

5. wonder if the Repukes will run someone against him in the primary

to shut him up

[hang a left]

6. Did he forget to mention that Iraq is gonna wreck havoc on the

2004 elections for them republicans?

[denverbill]

7. Leach has been in Congress forever.

I remember watching him in a committee meeting with former Fed chairman Paul Volcker, and Volcker was really complimentary towards Leach, saying something like 'well, if you say the banking bill is ok, then it's ok by me.' That was pretty high praise from a fed chairman.

Leach was a moderate Republican when I lived in Iowa. I'm sure he hasn't changed much.