Edwards' Three Iraq Questions

[JohnLocke]

Edwards' three Iraq questions
Posted: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 3:56 PM by Mark Murray
From NBC/NJ's Tricia Miller

NEWMARKET, NH -- At a town hall here, Edwards called on New Hampshire primary voters to ask candidates three specific questions about their plans for Iraq.

“These are the questions I think should be asked -- and answered -- by everybody,” he told the crowd inside Stone Church. “First, will you have all combat troops -- all combat troops -- out of Iraq in the first year of your Administration? That’s question number one. The answer to that question for me is yes, I will have all combat troops out of Iraq.

"Second, if you’re not going to have all combat troops out of Iraq, are you going to continue combat missions in Iraq over the longer term? The answer to that for me is no, because continuing combat missions is continuing the war. And if we’re going to bring this war to an end, we have to get combat troops out and we have to stop combat missions in Iraq, and I will do that.

"The third question is, will you keep permanent military bases in Iraq?

He continued by answering the questions for front-runner Clinton, charging that she would keep combat troops in Iraq; that those troops would continue combat missions; and that he “assumes” they would need somewhere to stay in Iraq. “To me, that’s not ending the war. Ending the war is getting our combat troops out and ending combat missions,” he said.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/06/451605.aspx

[rinsd]

1. John Edwards one month ago

HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — The leading Democratic White House hopefuls conceded Wednesday night they cannot guarantee to pull all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of the next presidential term in 2013.

“I think it’s hard to project four years from now,” said Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois in the opening moments of a campaign debate in the nation’s first primary state.

“It is very difficult to know what we’re going to be inheriting,” added Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

“I cannot make that commitment,” said former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina.

Sensing an opening, Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson provided the assurances the others would not.

“I’ll get the job done,” said Dodd, while Richardson said he would make sure the troops were home by the end of his first year in office.

http://jre-whatsnottolike.com/2007/09/27/no-edwards-commitment-to-pull-troops-by-2013/

[bpeale]

3. he said "no" because we have to keep troops there

in the embassy (as they are in ALL embassies) for the protection of those in the embassy. he did not say there would be combat missions or anything other than guards for the embassy.

[bpeale]

4. further

Dodd & Richardson are full of shit unless they are going to permanently CLOSE the embassy. troops are needed to guard the embassy.

and any position Edwards or the rest take is better than Hillary's "i'll keep troops there until 2013" ... only intending to withdraw during a second term. that is bullshit and i don't see how anyone can support that or justify it to themselves in order to vote for her.

[Stop Cornyn]

5. Since your candidate can't answer an honest question, I know you are tempted to misrepresent other

candidates' positions.

Try the WHOLE answer:

Q: Will you commit that at the end of your first term, in 2013, all US troops will be out of Iraq?

A: I cannot make that commitment. I can tell you what I would do as president. If there are in fact, as General Petraeus suggests, 100,000 American troops on the ground in Iraq, I will immediately draw down 40,000 to 50,000 troops and, over the course of the next several months, continue to bring our combat troops out of Iraq until all of our combat troops are in fact out of Iraq. I think the problem is, we will maintain an embassy in Baghdad. That embassy has to be protected. We will probably have humanitarian workers in Iraq. They have to be protected. I think somewhere in the neighborhood of a brigade of troops will be necessary to accomplish that--3,500 to 5,000 troops. Everyone up here wants to take a responsible course to end the war in Iraq. And the debate will be between a Democrat who wants to bring the war to an end, & a Republican who wants to continue the war.

Source: 2007 Democratic primary debate at Dartmouth College Sept. 26, 2007

Contrary to your misrepresentation, Edwards would get all "combat troops" out of Iraq, but admittedly would leave 3,500 to 5,000 non-combat troops to guard the embassy and humanitarian workers.

No need to apologize. I understand that you misrepresent other candidates' views out of frustration with the constant triangulation of the candidate who you root for with all the sophistication and tenacity of Michael Vick cheering for his favorite dog.

[Tejanocrat]

6. ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

[rinsd]

7. LOL, I love his answer!

3500-5000 troops to protect the embassy?

While I know it will be the largest embassy in the world, where does he plan on housing 3500 to 5000 troops?

Edwards sure has sold his supporters a bill of goods.

[Tejanocrat]

9. After a shellacking like that, you ought to keep your head down before you get hit by more facts!

[rinsd]

10. Eeh I got burned by a source. Doesn't make Edwards any less full of shit.

Notice he started with 5 questions but one left him open and was weasel worded (#4)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3690307

So now its 3 questions.

[Tejanocrat]

12. Actually, it makes Edwards better than you represented, and makes you quite full of shit. Gracious

way to acknowledge you were wrong, though!

[rinsd]

2. John Edwards' website on troops

Edwards believes we should completely withdraw all combat troops from Iraq within nine to ten months and prohibit permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. After withdrawal, we should retain sufficient forces in Quick Reaction Forces located outside Iraq, in friendly countries like Kuwait, to prevent an Al Qaeda safe haven, a genocide, or regional spillover of a civil war.

http://johnedwards.com/issues/iraq/

Before John Edwards Candidate did not agree with John Edwards Senator.

Now it appears John Edwards Candidate doesn't even agree with himself anymore.

[penguin7]

8. Why did Edwards claim Iraq had WMDs in 2002-03?

Doesn't Edward's record matter at all?

He lied about WMDs just like Cheney.

[FrenchieCat]

11. That's because although for Cheney, he should be held accountable (which I agree that he should)

while with John Edwards, his cheerleadering pro Iraq pre Iraq is nothing but ancient history dredge up for the purpose of smearing this very progressive and "for peace" candidate! :eyes:

[DURHAM D]

13. Personally, I think the vast majority of Americans want permanent bases.

I have not seen this polled but I think most want at least the following for their tax dollars and their sacrifice:

1) An embassy
2) Some permanent bases
3) A few more heads on a stick

Therefore, they know that a certain level of American troop strength is required in country. The vast majority of voters also know that decisions will need to be made as the situation changes and "absolute" statements by candidates are not to be trusted because it is just pandering to voters in the run up to the primary.