There's an old saying, "If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging." Americans understand this, and can see that our US military is in a hole in Iraq. Gov. Richardson understands this also, and wants to get our military out of that hole. Americans can see that the war in Iraq is helping al Qaeda to recruit terrorists, undermining the struggle against terrorism, increasing the chances of terror attacks on the US, encouraging anti-American hatred, and strengthening Iran. In a recent poll conducted by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, nearly 6 in 10 Americans continue to say they want their representatives in Congress to vote for legislation that would bring the troops home by August, 2008. Gov. Richardson is working to bring our young men and women home from Iraq as soon as possible.Finally, I have seen a reference to Bruce Riedel advising Richardson. A former National Security Council staff person and now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's Saban Centre for Middle East Policy, Riedel has called for our disengagement from Iraq. In July 2007, Riedel co-authored an essay stating:
A clear US commitment to a complete, irreversible withdrawal from Iraq may now be the only way to develop a regional concert of powers that could work with Iraqis to try to stabilise the country and cauterise the conflict.
The continuing US and British occupation is a roadblock to that co-operation. The galvanising impact of a decision to depart unequivocally can be the last best chance at preventing the conflict from boiling over beyond Iraq to the whole region. How we design and implement our departure is our last significant remaining leverage.
Richardson offers an unequivocal alternative on Iraq to the continued intervention offered by Clinton, Obama and Edwards. Richardson and his advisers recognize the war has been a disaster and will bring our intervention in Iraq with his first year in office.
Richardson proposes a global agenda that meaningfully addresses the pressing issues facing our planet and all peoples and will forge a new foreign policy that restores America's place in the world. He possesses a clarity of insight on Iraq that the other major candidates lack.
Richardson's plan for Iraq is bold, responsible and demonstrates the leadership skills we need in our President.
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