Former admiral says all American forces should pull out by year's end

[Rose Siding]

McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, U.S. Adm. Joe Sestak commanded a carrier battle group in combat near Afghanistan, then in the Persian Gulf in the run-up to the Iraq war.

Now a freshman member of the House of Representatives, Sestak, a Pennsylvania Democrat, has introduced a bill calling for withdrawing all American forces from Iraq by the end of this year, while strengthening the U.S. military presence in the region and in Afghanistan.
...
His bill would cut off most money for military operations in Iraq by Dec. 31.

"I honestly believe that in the next few months we will move to this position," Sestak said in an interview. "It may not be my bill, but it will be something very similar."

The main reason, he said, is that the war in Iraq is hurting American national security: It's diverted resources and attention from the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and from other challenges to U.S. interests around the world.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/16742343.htm

[Cleita]

1. If the military and ex-military really want to end this war ASAP

the Pentagon brass need to disobey orders from the master and commander, aka the commander-in-chief, the decider. Isn't there a provision in military rules that states no one has to obey an immoral order? Well this war in Iraq is about as immoral as it gets IMHO.

[Rydz777]

2. Indeed

Indeed Sestak is right. Bush has virtually wrecked both the Army and Marine Corps in this war which has killed and maimed thousands and worn out the equipment - not to mention the financial cost. This has to weaken our country's national defense against any other (real) threat that might emerge.

[Rydz777]

3. Indeed

Indeed Sestak is right. Bush has virtually wrecked both the Army and Marine Corps in this war which has killed and maimed thousands and worn out the equipment - not to mention the financial cost. This has to weaken our country's national defense against any other (real) threat that might emerge.

[BenDavid]

4. I agree, but one thing

the Democrats should not do, is cut funds for Iraq.but WHY? The Dems have to let George Bush's "last chance run out" and if they stop it before Sept. 1st. THE Democrats will collect ALL the blame for the failure of the Iraqi occupation.
This is Bush's War so it HAS to be His to lose. He and the right wing say they will know if it is working by the end of the summer.They have set their own end date.I can not see the Democrats cutting their own throats for the difference of a couple of months.

If they tamper with it, they own it.It will become the Democrat's quagmire if they assume control. Bush (and America's whore media) will say,
"We were winning until the Democrats stopped supporting the troops."BC

[LynnTheDem]

5. Yep. And to hell with all the people who die between now & then.

After all, they're "fungible".

[Vinca]

6. I think I agree with you because this wouldn't stop Dear Leader.

If Dems cut off funding, he'll borrow it somewhere. That's his MO. If funding is cut they'll have some ammunition against the Democrats, but it won't change the war plan.