By Kenneth J. Theisen
In a number of articles on this site we have emphasized that the leading Democratic contenders for president will keep U.S. troops in Iraq for many years and will not end the war there. This was reinforced during the Democratic presidential debate on September 26, 2007
At the beginning of the debate, debate moderator Tim Russert asked Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, as well as former Senator John Edwards whether they would promise to have all U.S. troops out by January 2013. All three refused to make such a promise even though that is more than five years from now.
Obama responded, “We would get combat troops out of Iraq. The only troops that would remain would be those that have to protect U.S. bases and U.S. civilians, as well as to engage in counterterrorism activities in Iraq.” He failed to mention that this would allow tens of thousands of troops, if not more, to remain in Iraq for the indefinite future.
Clinton echoed Obama when she stated, “I will drastically reduce our presence there to the mission of protecting our embassy, protecting our civilians, and making sure that we’re carrying out counterterrorism activities there.” Clinton claimed that the only combat missions she would permit would be those aimed at “eradicating al Qaeda in Iraq.”
John Edwards also refused to pledge withdrawal while attacking Clinton. He said her stand allows “a continuation of the war. I do not think we should continue combat missions in Iraq.” But he did not explain how he would stop the war if he refuses to withdraw troops in the next five plus years. I guess we are just supposed to believe him when he says, “I believe this war needs to come to an end.”
Relying on the democrats to end the war crimes of the Bush regime is clearly an illusion. They have repeatedly shown that they will continue the Iraq war. Only you, and millions like you, can end this war and all the crimes of the Bush regime. Do it now!