Thursday, November 30, 2006

Feingold Can't Get No Satisfaction

Russ "I have never had a craving to be president of the United States" Feingold has weighed in on the leaks from the Iraq Study Group's report due NEXT WEDNESDAY.

He's not happy with what he's hearing. The leaks aren't satisfying Russ.

He's troubled.

He wants a timeline for troop withdrawal and he wants it NOW.


Feingold's Press Release

“I look forward to reading the report of the Iraq Study Group and I expect that it will provide some useful proposals to correct this administration's misguided policies in Iraq. But I am troubled by reports that the Group will not recommend a timeline to redeploy our troops from Iraq. We must redeploy from Iraq so that we can refocus on what must be our top national security priority - the threat posed by terrorist networks operating around the world. While I welcome the reports that indicate the Group will recommend greatly expanded diplomatic efforts in that region, not including a flexible timetable for redeployment of our troops would be a mistake that weakens both our efforts to help Iraqis reach a political solution in Iraq and our national security.”

(Note: "Redeployment" means retreat.)

Feingold wants a dramatic troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Originally, his deadline for retreat was set for December 31, 2006.

Think about that. Feingold proclaimed that U.S. troops should be out of Iraq in a month.

Talk about being completely misguided. What a disastrous policy that would be!

It illustrates just how ridiculous a set timetable is.

Of course, Feingold joined with failed presidential candidate and failed comedian John Kerry to support a July 1, 2007 deadline for troop withdrawal.

When that date rolls around, will the time be right for troops to leave Iraq?

Perhaps. Without question, Iraqis should take responsibility for maintaining order in their country.

But the sort of timetable that Feingold wants is a mistake.

What's guaranteed is that a defined timetable is like calendaring violence, atrocities, and the certain deaths of men, women, and children.

Furthermore, as I've said, I'm troubled by the assumption that this report will be the road map for U.S. policy in Iraq.

Read the transcript of President Bush’s News Conference With Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq.

President Bush hasn't resigned. The executive branch has not changed hands. There hasn't been a coup.

Remember, the Constitution does not grant the Iraq Study Group the powers of the presidency.

Who's grabbing power now?

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