Clinton, Lowey on Bush’s Iraq announcement
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- April
- 10
President Bush announced this morning he will maintain troop levels in Iraq at after the five surge brigades leave at the end of July, but will reduce tours of duty there from 15 months to a year.
“General Petraeus says he’ll need time to consolidate his forces and assess how this reduced American presence will affect conditions on the ground before making measured recommendations on further reductions,’’ Bush said. “And I’ve told him he’ll have all the time he needs.”
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton commended Bush for cutting future deployments to 12 months, but said he has not answered her question on what happens next with the failure to achieve political reconcilation in Iraq.
“Once again President Bush is asking Americans for time and patience – but the American people are saying he’s had enough of both,’’ Clinton said. “Our troops have done all that’s been asked of them and more. It’s time for the President to answer the question being asked of him: ‘In the wake of the failed surge, what is the endgame in Iraq?’‘’
Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison, described the announcement that 140,000 troops will indefinitely remain in Iraq as “business as usual’’ from the president.
“The war in Iraq has lasted over five years, resulted in the loss of more than 4,000 soldiers and 30,000 injured, cost us hundreds of billions of dollars that could have been spent on pressing domestic needs, stretched our military readiness to the breaking point, and diminished the United States’ reputation and ability to achieve other international priorities,’’ Lowey said in a press statement. “Meanwhile, Americans at home are struggling with record gasoline and oil prices, looming foreclosures, and an economy teetering on the brink of recession.’’
This entry was posted
on Thursday, April 10th, 2008 at 12:01 pm by Brian Tumulty.
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