State Democratic Congressional Candidates Have Different Ways To Leave Iraq

With Monday marking the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War, Democratic congressional candidates in Colorado are united in supporting the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq - they just don't agree on how or when to go about it.

Tomorrow: the Iraq War views of Republican congressional candidates in Colorado

CD-1:

Diana DeGette: wants to establish date to start withdrawing U.S. troops

Stance: Congresswoman DeGette voted against the resolution that granted the authority for President George W. Bush to launch a unilateral attack on Iraq in 2003. This war has gone on for almost five years now, sacrificing the lives of thousands of our courageous soldiers and costing hundreds of billions of dollars. It is time for our military involvement in Iraq to come to an end, and for our troops to come home.

Additionally, despite the mismanagement of the war by President Bush and his Administration, Iraq has its own elected government under its own constitution. Congresswoman DeGette believes it is time for the Iraqi people take responsibility for their own country. In keeping with these views and her long-stated position against the Iraq war, Congresswoman DeGette is committed to establishing a date certain by which our military will leave Iraq and create benchmarks for the Iraqi government to meet. Failure to meet these benchmarks would result in accelerating the withdrawal of U.S. forces. Congresswoman DeGette will continue to work to bring a responsible end to this irresponsible war.

(Source: http://www.degette.house.gov/?sectionid=111&sectiontree=5,57,111)

CD-2:

Joan Fitz-Gerald: supports the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq

Stance: I strongly oppose the war in Iraq and I am the only candidate who has called for swift and immediate withdrawal. Let the diplomatic mission begin.

We must leave Iraq. No excuses. No exceptions. The military mission is over and the diplomatic mission must begin. I will vote to cut all funding for the war in Iraq and bring the troops home immediately. There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and Saddam Hussein is gone. Why are we still there? Our presence is exacerbating the instability in Iraq and in all of the Middle East. We must reestablish America's place in the world as a leader and reengage our diplomatic corps and allies.

(Source: http://www.joanfitz-gerald.com/node/298)

Jared Polis: would start gradually withdrawing troops and promote diplomacy

Stance:

• Immediately start draw-down of U.S. troops
• Create regional diplomatic plan for Middle East
• Reduce role of military contractors in Iraq
• More money for vets; cut down on fraud/corruption

(Source: http://www.responsibleplan.com) 

Will Shafroth: wants an "expedited timetable" for withdrawal

Stance: I am opposed to the war in Iraq, and have been from the beginning. The irresponsible rush to war, under false pretenses, is exacting a heavy price on military families and on our national economy. I support an expedited timetable for withdrawing our military forces from Iraq. Throughout that withdrawal, we must properly support and fund our troops, safely accelerating their return home. Our changing role in Iraq requires greater focus on reconstruction, diplomacy, and limited security training. In addition, it is critical that we bring regional and global parties together in an effort to stabilize Iraq and to keep the violence in Iraq from spreading across the Middle East.

(Source: Shafroth spokesperson Lynea Hansen)

CD-3:

John Salazar: would, as of May 2007, bring troops home as soon as "realistically possible"

Stance: A campaign spokesperson did not return a phone call seeking a comment Monday, and no formal policy statement on Iraq could be found on either Salazar's campaign or Congressional Web site.

However, in a May 2007 press release following his "aye" vote on an Iraq War spending bill, Salazar said, " I believe that we must begin to bring our troops home as soon as it is realistically possible.  The American people have spoken and they want change.  We cannot continue to stay the course of a failed policy."

(Source: http://www.house.gov/list/press/co03_salazar/PR_2_052407.html)

CD-4:

Betsy Markey: wants a "responsible transition" with a priority on withdrawing troops "safely and soon"

Stance: Congress must face up to the challenges presented by a poorly planned war in Iraq.  Moving ahead, our government needs to embrace a responsible transition out of Iraq that puts a priority on bringing our troops home safely and soon.  As a former State Department employee who spent much of the 1980's working in Cold War countries to ensure the safety of our embassies, I feel strongly that we need to do everything we can to protect the well being of our men and women in uniform, both abroad and at home, as well as the ongoing security of our Embassy in Iraq.

(Source: Markey manager Anne Caprara)

CD-5:

Hal Bidlack: would refocus the military's efforts on finding Osama bin Laden

Stance: President Bush blundered us into the wrong war against the wrong enemy. Hal was in the Pentagon on the morning of September 11, 2001. What he saw that day causes him to say "I am personally outraged that we have not put the full force of the US military to the task of finding, capturing, or killing Osama Bin Laden and defeating the real terrorists." While the US military has performed magnificently in Iraq, we are now stuck between the sides of a civil war. The Iraqi government must make real progress toward peace, and soon.

(Source: http://bidlack2008.com/)

CD-6:

Mike Collins: would use more diplomacy to find a solution

Stance:

• Replace fear with diplomacy
• Bring neighbors (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria) to the table in bringing diplomacy to bear instead of just military solutions.  

(Source: http://www.collinsforcolorado.com/)

Hank Eng: would listen to both sides to find an "honorable formula" for withdrawal

Stance: Clearly the war in Iraq is an important issue we must face.  I do not believe that we need to dwell on how and why we are in Iraq.  That will be for the historians and political scientists of the future to determine.  

What we must work toward today is an honorable formula to ensure a departure does not leave a region dangerous to our national interest or to those of our allies, or more dangerous than when we went in.   The solutions thus far offered by most are polar opposites.  No one can really see a total withdrawal nor would anyone agree to a 100 year presence as suggested by some.  

The solution lies somewhere in the middle.  

I know that with a sincere desire to listen to alternatives and work together with less finger pointing, we can achieve a solution that allows us to extricate ourselves from an unwise war.  We must withdraw with honor and ensure we do not leave behind the memories of those who sacrificed their lives.

(Source: http://www.hankeng.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=26)

CD-7:

Ed Perlmutter: favors regional involvement and redeploying U.S. troops to nearby bases outside Iraq  

Stance: My message regarding how to get our troops home as quickly as possible in Iraq is clear and consistent.  We must first transition security to the Iraqi government.  The Iraqi government has relied for too long on American lives and treasure, and it is time for them to stand up and take control of their country. Real diplomacy must take place and involve all the regional governments in order to promote a multi-national reconstruction and economic development effort.  The final component of my plan is to redeploy our troops to nearby bases outside Iraq in the event a quick strike is needed by the spring of 2008...

...Lastly, I oppose the troop surge proposed by President Bush.  However, I do support the establishment of benchmarks for the Iraqi government that our military and economic support is tied to, and I will do everything in my power to ensure our brave men and women be given the funding, equipment and training they need.  It is time our troops receive the civilian leadership and policy they deserve.

(Source: http://perlmutter.house.gov/issue_details.aspx?IID=7)