| Iraq |
 |
 |
 |
|
We need to end the war in Iraq with honor while protecting our troops and honoring our veterans. Let's focus on Afghanistan and bringing Bin Laden to justice. I've endorsed the Responsible Plan to End the War, a strategy endorsed by leading retired Generals and military experts. We should begin staged troop withdrawals immediately, based on a schedule approved by our military leaders. It is a misuse of our military to keep our troops in harm's way in Iraq without a clear strategy to end an occupation that requires a political, as opposed to a military, solution. Our essential mission is complete now. Our troops are largely securing Iraq against a civil war among its principal rival groups: Sunni Arabs, Shi'ite Arabs, and Kurds. This should be the job of Iraqis, not Americans. If the Iraqis continue to require military assistance, it should be offered through multinational forces such as NATO or the United Nations. And when our soldiers return from service, we need to honor them for who they are – heroes. Our veterans kept their commitment to our country; we must keep our commitment to them. Congress must work in a bipartisan way to ensure that the Veterans Administration and our veterans have all the resources they need. It is time for a new direction for our VA system – a system that is overwhelmed by troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan seeking care and, in many cases, unable to provide veterans with the quality, timely services they deserve. |
