Issue Position: Iraq

Issue Position

"For over three years, our nation has struggled with the war in Iraq. It is increasingly clear that Congress must do what the Bush Administration has failed to do - advocate a plan for the peace in Iraq that includes the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2007."

Peter Welch believes that it is the duty of the President to provide Americans with a plan for returning responsibility of Iraq to the Iraqis and to bring our troops home and that plan must include a timetable. It is Congress,s duty to hold the President accountable to do so, and to stop being a rubber stamp for his policy of drift and indecision.

Peter believes that without a timetable, there is no pressure on the Iraqis to do what only they can do: make the political decisions required to establish stability and create a civil society.

President Bush's "stay the course" policy is a failure. His statement that he will leave it to a future President to figure out how to bring our troops home is an unacceptable negligence of his responsibilities as Commander in Chief.

Along with Vermont's entire Congressional delegation, Peter opposed the war from the start. He did not think that the President made the case that Iraq posed an immediate threat to our national security.

In fact, Peter believes the war in Iraq is making us less safe, not more. The National Intelligence Estimate report found that the open-ended conflict is fostering terrorism, not combating it. Our troops are now caught refereeing a civil war without a plan for the peace.

Peter argues that it's time for a change in direction.

As a Member of Congress, Peter would support a plan and timetable that included these elements:

* Redeployment and reduction of American troops in Iraq with a goal of bringing the majority home next year;
* Explicit acknowledgement that the U.S. will not maintain permanent military bases in Iraq;
* Continuing aid to Iraq for security force training and reconstruction, subject to a functioning government; and
* Intensive diplomatic efforts with neighboring countries to minimize the increasing threat of regional instability.

Peter acknowledges that America has real enemies, but to increase our security we must be smart and tough, willing to address reality with more than political rhetoric. By returning Iraq back to the Iraqi people, we can renew focus on fighting the global war on terrorism and protecting our homeland security.

Peter believes the President and his compliant Congress need a wakeup call - this election is when voters can make it.

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