Kennedy on Amendments to Begin Redeployment of Troops From Iraq

Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on amendments to begin to redeploy American troops from Iraq:

“Today’s vote demonstrates the extent to which Republicans have become a rubber stamp for the President’s failed policy. It’s wrong to affirm that ‘stay the course’ is a strategy for success. It’s wrong to abdicate our responsibility to our men and women in uniform who are paying for the administration’s failed policy with their lives. It’s wrong to allow mindless determination and foolish consistency to base our policy on hope, and hope alone. We must not forget that ultimately this is a debate about real people who are risking their lives every day.

America was wrong to go to war in Iraq in the way we did, when we did, and for the false reasons we were given. There was no imminent threat. There was no persuasive link to Al Qaeda. Saddam Hussein was not close to acquiring a nuclear weapon. Our military forces have now been deployed in Iraq for 39 months—more than three years. That’s longer than the 37 months of combat in the Korean War. By the end of this year, it will be longer than it took to fight and win World War II.

The American people want a realistic strategy for our troops to redeployed out of Iraq. Both Democratic amendments make clear that we are united in our belief that it’s time to shift to the Iraqis the responsibility for their own future and begin to withdraw our troops from Iraq. Democrats have sent a clear message: now that a democratic government has been elected by the Iraqi people, it’s time for American troops to begin to come home.”

–Tristan Takos