LAT: Angelides Puts Iraq on Table: As governor, would withdraw Cali. Guard [View All]

[DeepModem Mom]

CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS
Angelides Puts Iraq on Table
The gubernatorial candidate says he would immediately seek the Guard's withdrawal.
By Michael Finnegan, Times Staff Writer
September 24, 2006

In a move to bolster his appeal among Democrats, state Treasurer Phil Angelides said Saturday night that on his first day as governor, he would call on President Bush to withdraw California's National Guard troops from the war in Iraq.

The Democratic nominee for governor said in a telephone interview that he would take court action against Bush if necessary to extract the state's National Guard members from Iraq. He said he would also urge other governors and members of Congress to join his effort.

"I will do everything in my power as governor of the state of California to bring our National Guard troops home," Angelides said.

At a Democratic primary debate in May, Angelides said governors lack the power to force the Pentagon to send a state's National Guard troops home from the war. But in the interview Saturday night, he said there might be some legal leeway on the matter.

Angelides said roughly 1,700 California National Guard troops are stationed in Iraq, but the number could not be verified on Saturday night. He also said he would not call for the withdrawal of several hundred California National Guard troops deployed in Afghanistan....

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-angelides24sep24,0,7265587.story?coll=la-home-right1