|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Dole: Troop pullout should start in '08
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Candidate
|
| Contributor | The Sunset Provision |
| Last Edited | The Sunset Provision Jul 12, 2007 01:27pm |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | News |
| News Date | Thursday, July 12, 2007 07:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Sen. Elizabeth Dole said Tuesday she hopes U.S. troops can start coming home from Iraq next year, and she criticized the Iraqi government for failing to meet several so-called benchmarks set earlier this year by Congress.
"Our troops have been doing a great job, but the Iraqi government has not. Our commitment in Iraq is not indefinite, nor should the Iraqi government perceive it to be," the North Carolina Republican said in a written statement. "It is my firm hope and belief that we can start bringing our troops home in 2008."
Dole hasn't gone as far as some Republican senators in being critical of the situation in Iraq, but it's the first time she's said troops should begin returning. Republican Senators Richard Lugar of Indiana, George Voinovich of Ohio, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Olympia Snowe of Maine have said recently that the U.S. should begin troop redeployments.
"She's tried to be as supportive as possible of the generals on the ground in terms of the strategy, but at this point she's really prepared to say that 2008 is when we should begin bringing troops home," said Brian Nick, Dole's chief of staff.
Nick said Dole continues to oppose proposals that would cut off funding to U.S. troops or set date-specific timelines for withdrawal from Iraq.
President Bush has threatened to veto legislation that would set a date for a troop withdrawal. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said nearly all Democrats support a proposal requiring a troop withdrawal that would begin within 120 days and be completed by the end of April 2008.
|
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
