Republican Senator Abandons Bush, Wants Troops Home by Christmas
August 24, 2007
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This post, written by Steve Benen, originally appeared on The Carpetbagger Report
Well, this has the potential to at least shake up the debate a little.
The details of Warner's proposal are, at this point, unclear. We don't know, for example, how many troops he'd like to see come home, and/or whether this December draw-down would be the start of a broader, phased withdrawal process.
Well, this has the potential to at least shake up the debate a little.
One of the Senate's top Republicans has called on President Bush to start bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq by Christmas, telling reporters Thursday that a pullout was needed to spur Iraqi leaders to action.Sen. John Warner of Virginia, the influential former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he has recommended that Bush announce the beginning of a U.S. withdrawal in mid-September, after a report is released from the top U.S. officials in Iraq.
"In my humble judgment, that would get everyone's attention the attention that is not being paid at this time," said Warner.Warner reportedly noted that Bush, Cheney, and others have repeatedly said that the American commitment to Iraq was not open-ended. "The time has come to put some meaningful teeth into those comments -- to back them up with some clear, decisive action," Warner added.
The details of Warner's proposal are, at this point, unclear. We don't know, for example, how many troops he'd like to see come home, and/or whether this December draw-down would be the start of a broader, phased withdrawal process.
