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Statement
by Senator Harry Reid, December 19, 2006
Frankly,
I don't believe that more troops is the answer for Iraq. It's
a civil war and America should not be policing a Sunni-Shia
conflict. In addition, we don't have the additional forces
to put in there. We obviously want to support what commanders
in the field say they need, but apparently even the Joint
Chiefs do not support increased combat forces for Baghdad.
My position on Iraq is simple:
1.
I believe we should start redeploying troops in 4 to 6 months
(The Levin-Reed Plan) and complete the withdrawal of combat
forces by the first quarter of 2008. (As laid out by the Iraq
Study Group)
2.
The President must understand that there can only be a political
solution in Iraq, and he must end our nation's open-ended
military commitment to that country.
3.
These priorities need to be coupled with a renewed diplomatic
effort and regional strategy.
I
do not support an escalation of the conflict. I support
finding a way to bring our troops home and would look at any
plan that gave a roadmap to this goal.
It's
been two weeks since the Iraq Study Group released its plan
to change the course and bring our troops home. Since then,
the President has been on a fact finding tour of his own administration
-- apparently ignoring the facts presented by those in the
military who know best. The President needs to put forth a
plan as soon as possible, one that reflects the reality on
the ground in Iraq and that withdraws our troops from the
middle of this deadly civil war.
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