Dodd Proposes Shift In Iraq

Hartford Courant - October 13, 2006
By DAVID LIGHTMAN, Washington Bureau Chief

PROVIDENCE -- U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd Thursday altered his course on Iraq, calling for a goal of repositioning U.S. troops from current Iraqi positions beginning immediately and finishing within 12 to 18 months.

Dodd, D-Conn., earlier this year had joined most other Democratic senators in rejecting precise timetables, calling instead for the beginning of phased redeployment by the end of this year.

But, he told students, faculty and alumni in a speech at Providence College: "The hour has arrived when Iraq must assume the responsibility of policing itself."

He offered a blueprint of how he would redeploy U. S. troops now in Iraq.

"We must begin immediately to reposition our troops from Baghdad, Fallujah and other large urban centers," he said, to Kurdistan and other less populated areas of Iraq.

That way, Dodd said, "training of Iraqi forces could continue."

He would also move troops to border areas, "where they can protect the territorial integrity of Iraq until Iraqi forces can do so themselves."

Good job, Senator.

Now, are there any OTHER senators around who might want to accept the reality that we'll NEVER "win" in Iraq, and that we'd be better served by providing the Iraqis the training and tools to take care of themselves?