Candidates for president.

Some time later today, in a few minutes, former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski is going to introduce Barack Obama to an audience in Iowa, where he (Obama) will deliver a speech calling for the immediate withdraw of troops from Iraq.

Sort of. Actually, the immediate beginning of a withdraw. That probably leaves some wiggle room.

Since they write these speeches before they give them (wimps!) we know he’s going to say this:

“I’m here today because it’s not too late to come together as Americans … Because we’re not going to be able to deal with the challenges that confront us until we end this war. I opposed this war from the beginning… I opposed the war in 2002. I opposed it in 2003. I opposed it in 2004. I opposed it in 2005. I opposed it in 2006.”

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton has this to say in a letter to George Bush that she just today dropped in the mail:

Dear Mr. President:

As you prepare to address the nation tomorrow, I write to request that you seize the opportunity and offer the American people a candid assessment of the challenges that we continue to face in Iraq and offer a change in course to your failing strategy.

…

As Commander-in-Chief you have the authority and ability to greatly accelerate the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq, and to bring so many more troops home so much faster. I strongly urge you to choose this course of action.

Mr. President, it has been nearly four and a half years since you landed on an aircraft carrier and stood before the American people under a banner that read “Mission Accomplished.” Do not repeat that mistake on Thursday night. Do not misrepresent the facts about the situation on the ground. And do not portray an unavoidable reduction in U.S. troops to pre-surge levels that would occur anyway as a marker of success. Be candid with the American people. They deserve it.

Redeployment.

John Edward’s current statement on the issue:

In response to President Bush’s announcement that he will withdraw 30,000 troops from Iraq by next summer, Senator John Edwards released the following statement:

“President Bush has stated that he will withdraw 30,000 troops by next summer. The truth is that because the president’s Iraq policy has brought our military close to the breaking point, these forces would have been withdrawn anyway—unless the president planned to extend tours to an unconscionable 18 months. The president taking credit for this withdrawal is like taking credit for gravity.

“It’s time to end this sad game of excuses and Beltway double-talk. Last November, the American people voted for real change in Iraq, but instead the president has clung to the status quo and Congress has caved. For over a year, I have called for an immediate withdrawal of 40-50,000 troops—not by next summer, but today—to jump-start the comprehensive political solution that will end the violence in Iraq and allow a complete troop withdrawal within a year.

Immediate, partial withdraw.

I honestly like all three candidates for various reasons. But I do wish one or more of them would grow some balls.

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