An in-between option for Iraq?
In the discussions on whether the US should stay in Iraq or go home there is peculiar little attention given to the possibility of something in between, like getting out of the way while still hanging around in the neighborhood, close to the borders of Iraq, so as to see how it goes. Not only would this allow the Iraqis to take more ownership of their own destiny but also, if things go really haywire, for the US to return and help, something impossible if they have all gone home to Kansas. Any comment?
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MAIN POINTS OF SENATOR EDWARDS PLAN:
- Cap funding for the troops in Iraq at 100,000 troops to stop the surge and implement an immediate drawdown of 40-50,000 combat troops. Any troops beyond that level should be redeployed immediately.
- Prohibit funding to deploy any new troops to Iraq that do not meet real readiness standards and that have not been properly trained and equipped, so American tax dollars are used to train and equip our troops, instead of escalating the war.
- Make it clear that President Bush is conducting this war without authorization. The 2002 authorization did not give President Bush the power to use U.S. troops to police a civil war. President Bush exceeded his authority long ago, and now needs to end the war and ask Congress for new authority to manage the withdrawal of the U.S. military presence and to help Iraq achieve stability.
- Require a complete withdrawal of combat troops in Iraq in the next 12-18 months without leaving behind any permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq.
- Allow special forces to remain in region for specail operations.
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