Departing on Iraq (Republicans talk exit)

[ProSense]

Departing on Iraq

By Bangor Daily News Staff

Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - Bangor Daily News << Back

Late last year, Sen. John Warner sponsored an amendment stating that 2006 should be "a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty," of security forces taking the lead and U.S. forces able to begin a phased withdrawal. Last week, Sen. Warner, having returned from a quick trip to Iraq, announced 2006 was not a year of transition on Iraq but of "drifting sideways" and that the United States should consider a "change of course."

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Fellow Republican on Armed Services, Sen. Susan Collins, recently said in The New York Times, "We’ve heard over and over that as Iraqis stand up, our troops will stand down. Well, there are now hundreds of thousands of Iraqi troops and security forces, and yet we have not seen any reduction in violence."

Yesterday, Sen. Olympia Snowe was direct in her assessment of the White House’s current position: "As conditions in Iraq continue to worsen, there must be no questions among the administration, the Congress and the Iraqi unity government that staying the course is neither an option nor a plan."

Republicans will hope to find both an alternative plan and political cover in an Iraq study group of five Republicans and five Democrats led by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III. Already, Mr. Baker, whose group is expected to issue a report next month, has said the administration should spend more time talking with nations such as Syria and Iran about solutions in Iraq.

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Gov. Schwarzenegger Calls For Exit From Iraq On 'Tonight'


KERRY-FEINGOLD:

We began an important fight because together we know the time has come for a Congress that shares responsibility for getting us into Iraq to take responsibility for helping to get us out. We know it is not enough to argue with details or logistics, with the manner of the conflict’s execution or the failures of competence, as great as they are. It is essential to fight to set a date to withdraw American forces.

That’s why this June with Russ Feingold, we fought for an up or down vote on the Kerry-Feingold amendment to withdraw US combat forces from Iraq by July 1, 2007. We made it clear that our soldiers have done their job. It is time for Iraqis to do their job – it’s time for Iraqis to stand up for Iraq. It’s time for Iraqis to want democracy for themselves as much as we want it for them. Click here to read our plan.

Hundreds of thousands of you in the johnkerry.com community have shown your support for our plan for Iraq. You signed our petition and urged your Senators to stand with us. With your help, we stood up to the Bush Administration’s aimless and failed course in Iraq.

On June 22, 2006 the Senate voted on the Kerry-Feingold amendment. Thirteen courageous Senators stood with us, and we want to thank them for their leadership:

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), co-sponsor
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT)
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), co-sponsor
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)

The fight is not over until we have changed course in Iraq. November 7th will be a day of reckoning for the administration’s broken course in Iraq.

Congress Approves Kerry Legislation Urging Summit of Iraq and Its Neighbors to End Civil War and Build Political Solution

[ProSense]

1. U.S. casualties surge amid worsening Iraq violence

U.S. casualties surge amid worsening Iraq violence

Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:11pm ET

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. military casualties have surged in Iraq in recent weeks, with U.S. troops engaging in perilous urban sweeps to curb sectarian violence in Baghdad while facing unrelenting violence elsewhere.

At least 44 U.S. troops have been killed so far in October. At the current pace, the month would be the deadliest for U.S. forces since January 2005. After falling to 43 in July, the U.S. toll rose in August and September before spiking this month. The war's average monthly U.S. death toll is 64.

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"It can hunker down and concentrate on force protection, in which case the casualties always decline," Carpenter said, but Iraq's violence might spiral out of control.

"Or it can go out and patrol more aggressively, in which case the casualties go up dramatically. So basically it's a choice of poisons for American policy-makers," Carpenter added.

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Brookings Institution analyst Michael O'Hanlon said there has been a gradual increase in overall violence since the first year of the war as the insurgency grew in strength and sophistication.

But spikes in violence, he said, have been driven primarily by U.S. actions like the current operation in Baghdad.

On the current surge in casualties, O'Hanlon said: "We're not winning and we may even be starting to lose. That's what it should make you conclude."

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Woman interrupts Bush speech with Iraq chant

ST. LOUIS A woman yelling about Iraq managed to very briefly interrupt President Bush's speech on energy today in St. Louis.

As the president touted alternative fuels, a woman began chanting "Out of Iraq Now."

Bush continued with his speech as officials yanked the woman by her coat sleeve out of the audience. She began shouting louder, her fist in the air while yelling: "What are you doing? You're killing us."

The president continued speaking, and received extended applause.