It's Time to Make a Choice in Iraq

Yesterday, twelve former Army captains wrote that short of reinstating the draft, "our best option is to leave Iraq immediately." In an extraordinary editorial in the Washington Post, these captains--all of whom served in Iraq--made it clear that we need to end this war and we need to end it now. They wrote that a " scaled withdrawal will not prevent a civil war and it will spend more blood and treasure on a losing proposition."

I strongly urge every American to read this important report from those who served in the failed conflict in Iraq. Army captains are the staff officers who plan operations against insurgent strongholds. They are the company commanders who lead our soldiers through the streets of Baghdad. And they are the soldiers who will direct our withdrawal from Iraq.

These men and women know the score. They know that we must leave Iraq. As they put it, "It's time to make a choice." Americans are fed up with the President's stalling and Congressional failure to act. Frankly, it is well past time we make a choice. And the only responsible choice left to us is to get all of our troops out of Iraq, with no residual forces left behind--no combat forces, no non-combat forces. As President, I will do it. I will get all of our troops out within a year after I take office - sooner if we can get it done safely.

The other major candidates in this race have said--again and again--that they will not. Senators Edwards, Obama, and Clinton have all refused to commit to getting all of our troops out of Iraq by 2013. None of them are willing to be clear about removing all troops - combat and non-combat. It's unbelievable. Are they looking at the same war the rest of us are? Furthermore, they are all advocating precisely the sort of scaled withdrawal that these twelve captains are warning against. It doesn't make any sense. Real leadership is about making the tough choices, and knowing when it is time to make bold moves. Now is the time for action, not hesitation. Ending this war requires real change, not more incrementalism.

Ending this war is the most important issue of our time. And it is the fundamental difference between me and Senators Edwards, Obama, and Clinton. I will end the war; they will not. I will get all of our troops out; they will leave troops behind indefinitely. I will order a safe and rapid withdrawal and have our troops out within a year. They have proposed a long, protracted withdrawal that will only increase the danger to our fighting men and women and drag out the war.

2013 is six years from now - six years. In six years, will we have lost 6,000 men and women in Iraq? 10,000? More? In six years will this be a $2 trillion mistake? Or $3 trillion? The war has been going on for four and half years already. Six years from now, we will have been there for more than a decade. Are you okay with that? I'm not.

The choice in Iraq is clear. We need to get all our troops out quickly. We need to end this war for real. Go to getourtroopsout.com to join Americans across the country in calling for a quick, clear, responsible end to the war in Iraq.

Comments

[Think82]

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3756981

[Think82]

Richardson is pandering to the left against which I believe to be his better judgment.

The REAL leader on how to end the war in Iraq is JOE BIDEN

[deminmo]

As the weekend winds up there are a few things
changing in Iraq. One is increased violence
again, in areas thought to be secured. And
the Kurds in northern Iraq killing Turkish
troops as they hit targets at the border.

When will the Iraqi government, which is Bush
friendly, be ready to assume more active
military control? Were they not being trained
starting 3 years ago to assume the duties
so that American troops could begin the process
of coming home? And at what point do people
get that conflicts in the Middle East have
gone on for centuries and will continue, and
that the civil war Iraq has become, will only
get worse?

[RuthieM]

You've got part of this wrong Gov Richardson. Time and again Obama has said he would begin removing combat troops immediately at 1 to 2 brigades a month. Obama is a smart man, he wants an end to this invasion more than anyone I believe and I also believe he will get them out right away as president after seeing exactly what the situation is the very first day he becomes president. Why is it you don't put pressure on the guy who got us into this ultra mess to get us OUT NOW, Bush, instead of playing politics against the other candidates just to get your votes. Send articles like this to him, telephone him, harrass him, he's the one, and Hillary and John and the others who voted for this thing. Tell them to get us out of there NOW!!!

[StephenCassidy]

Have you been watching any of the Presidential debates? Obama says one thing on the campaign trail but when pressed on the issue of withdrawing from Iraq during the debates he refuses to call for an immediate withdrawal and leaves open the door to the US intervention lasting all the way until 2013. Obama is not showing leadership on the path out of Iraq.

[Kirby]

Bush and Company are so far out on this issue -the war which should have never been started. He's going around in circles trying to defend what he has done, which, when all is said and done, and evaluated in light of facts which preceded this conflagration, it is clear that we American People have been taken for a ride.

Pathetic and damnable bastards!

[Levittown]

The only way out is to stop funding the war.Let Bush veto everything the Democrats present. The onus will be on him. The chaos they claim will follow withdrawal is what we have their now. We have the air power to cause much damage every where that imperils the freedom of Iraq without be on the ground. The UN must be a presence in Iraq to help them unify themselves. We are seen as an invader and an occupying unwanted force
in their country. The people will tell you so. The politicians cannot be relied upon to speed things up as
long as we cover their butts.

[blankmw]

Governor Richardson -
I and many, many Americans agree with you that this so-called "war" should be over yesterday, and that the troops should be brought home immediately. We agree that GW Bush had no legitimate reason to invade and continue to occupy Iraq, and the excuses he made to do so turned out to be false pretenses. We agree that there is no reason to spend resources and possibly lives to guard a $1 billion white elephant embassy in a country that doesn't want our presence there. The problem is:
HOW CAN WE GET CONGRESS TO CARRY OUT OUR WISHES???
I write my representative and senators almost daily. I write and e-mail Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, etc. I even write and e-mail the white house. On the recent SCHIP vote for children's health care, I wrote every senator and representative that voted against the bill, and I wrote every Republican that voted for the bill to thank them. All to no avail.
I am afraid that the self-interest of our politicans' political careers trumps all logic and ethical morality. I am afraid that no one in Washington is truly acting to reflect the interests of their constituents, but, rather, they are acting to preserve and protect their political careers. As long as our elections are bought by bundlers, lobbyists and favorable connections with the Supreme Court, I don't see our "leaders" as representing our best interests.
And all the while, people, American soldiers and Iraqi civilians, continue to be horribly maimed and die. And, all the while, GW Bush continues to glibly smile his nauseating smirk and gets punch-drunk on his unchecked power.

[JoAnnCr]

Governor Richardson is a liar.

I spoke with him specifically about John Edward's stance on getting the troops out when he visited Iowa.

He knows John Edwards will get all of the combat troops out. He knows the troops Edwards will leave behind will only be the standard security details for the Embassy (which he would also do) and humanitarian workers should those workers be needed.

I have written to his campaign and they wrote back acknowledging the mistake. They also said they would correct the error. Then this comes out.

I have only one conclusion. Bill Richardson is a liar.

[areacode631]

I think that you are all liars and losers who have no vested interest in the military. This faux-patriotism is ad naseum. 90% of Americans DO NOT ever join the military so you all need to shut your pieholes. The Defeatocrats live up to their image as white flag waving and surrender morons that they are. If we had this mentality during WW1 or WW11 we would all be speaking German and/or Russian. Thank a vet and then shut up!

[Stoyver]

I think you have patriotism confused with corporate nationalism, also called fascism. As a vet I volunteered to defend and if need be, die for my country. I believed that the President would only send us into combat if it was absolutely necessary. Bush violated that trust.

Clearly, we are in combat in Iraq for oil. I did not volunteer to die for oil and other commodities. Perhaps you see it different. You might want to review the history of WWII. Democrats that you seem to hate, lead the American forces to a decisive victory. Your beloved Republicans seem to be having their ass handed to them by a rag-tag insurgency in a war they started in Iraq. They ain't doing so well in Afghanistan either. But if Americans keep thinking like the fascists want us to we will have endless opportunities to fight wars.

[deminmo]

Sir, with all due respect I really am getting
tired of anyone in government and especially a
Presidential candidate, saying something needs
to be done in Iraq. Do something! Show all of
us some action! Talk is very cheap these days.

[jdm58]

Thank you for the apology, and of course it is accepted. I too, have grown weary of the waste. I just want Richardson to clarify his statements- if he is, as you say, assuming that everyone who wants to will leave Iraq with safe passage guaranteed, then fine. But I wish he'd just say it. He has only committed to the troop withdrawal, not anything else. What about humanitarian aid protection, protection or assistance to refugees- he just leaves it off the table. I want to elect a president who will talk to the American people, as well as the Iraqis (who after all, probably deserve it most), honestly about what to expect, when, how, and why it is the very best plan. I for one am tired of my government treating us all like idiots who will follow any policy, although a good number are behaving this way by not voting or bothering to find out the details behind the rhetoric. This is not an election we can just cast a vote and hope it works out for the best. While I like some of Richardson's stances, and his resume, he needs to be more specific about his plans in Iraq, and at home, to gain my vote at least- and perhaps others? That may be a reason why he is behind.

[Hallucinocynic]

JDM, we're on the same page. I have had high hopes for Governor Richardson and, especially, Dennis Kucinich. Both of them have been so marginalized by the MSM (who will, let's face it, benefit the most from all those millions being deposited in Obama's and HRC's campaign accounts) that their statements are either abbreviated, elided over or simply ignored. Unless you jump up and down (as I did - oops), screaming like Pete Stark, the MSM just doesn't give you much lip service.

There will be civilian workers, not all of whom are Americans, who will be at risk during the drawdown. But none of them will be caught by surprise given the loud dialogue (or swearing) surrounding a US withdrawal from Iraq. Any who choose to remain will do so because of economic reasons, unless they're relief workers (and these folks are who we should be defending). But I do appreciate your concern for the contractors...with the exception of those who work for a few notorious companies.

[jdm58]

Isn't it intriguing that a dialogue can be opened, discussion and opposing viewpoints can be expressed, common ground can be found, and agreement can be reached, between people from different backgrounds, who have never met? All it takes is listening, patience, empathy, and willingness to entertain new ideas and viewpoints. Too bad our government seems to have forgotten this form of diplomacy. Or perhaps they never tried it. Peace.

[bella6]

GOV. RICHARDSON, KEEP ON TRUCKING , YOU HAVE MADE A LOT OF US HERE IN OHIO SIT UP AND LISTEN WE LOVE WHAT WE ARE HEARING
GOOD LUCK

[bella6]

WE KNOW ALL THE HISTORY OF THE PAST ,PEROT WAS ONE HECK OF A MAN , STILL IS, WE NEED A STRONG LEADER, RICHARDSON HAS SOME AWSOME IDEAS BUT WE SEEM TO CLING TO THE FRONTRUNNER, AND THE ONE WHO RAISES THE MOST MONEY, IT IS SAD TODAY THAT WE HAVE TO RAISE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS JUST TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, WHO CARES ABOUT TV ADS, DEGRADING YOUR OPONENT, OR WHOSE WIFE IS ON THE PHONE(PHONEY), WE NEED SOMEONE WITH SOME FIRE OR WE ARE DOOMED.
HOW DARE BUSH TO SEND IRAC SO MANY MILLIONS OF OUR MONEY TO IRAC AND OUR VERY OWN PEOPLE ARE STARVING, NO MEDICAL HEALP FOR THE YOUNG(HOWN STUPID) WHAT IS THIS COUNTRY GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE ESPECIALLY FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN?
DO U THINK CHANEY, BUSH ETC CARES ABOUT THE HARD WORKERS THAT MADE THIS COUNTRY WHAT IT IS TODAY , HECK KNOW THEY ARE OIL MEN , AND THE DOLLAR SIGN IS THEIR LOGO, BUT IT WILL BE THEIR DOWNFALL SOON, SO LETS ALL GET ALONG AND GET OUT AND VOTEFOR THE RIGHT GUY , IF POSSIBLE............

[Dandy12]

I believe Bush said, "if we don't leave. we don't loose", or something unintelligle to that effect. He is going to let the great exodus begin under the guidance of another administration. Got to protect that blighted legacy of his...

[Dangoodbar]

Governor Richardson,

You have my vote and what other contributions I can make to electing a president of whose leadership will make us proud.

[jwod]

Unfortunately, loose talk is as deadly as loose lips. Our leaving will not end the war, Mr. Richardson. We shouldn't have attacked Iraq in the first place, and have spent our blood, dollars and 9/11 political capital in Afghanistan, and hammering alQaeda in Pakistan, if necessary. Now we have to face the actual mess we have made, not the rhetorical 'ending' of the war.

A draft should have resulted from 9/11, and the Captains are right there. But these halfass approaches, by the administration (the surge and wait for the politicians), and the 'we can end the war' candidates, are equally foolish. Either we do an allout effort to rebuild Iraq, making it peaceful, secure and prosperous, whatever it takes, or we admit that we lost, taking no pleasure from it and impeaching the President and Vice-President for their incompetence, lies and fraud.

[Bigtexxx]

Is that a breath of fresh air I feel? Thanks, Big Bill, for stating your position clearly, intelligently and without equivocation. That so impressed me, I just made a contribution to his campaign.

Here's to clarity, and here's to getting the hell out of I-wreck.