Thursday, January 27, 2005

Senator Edward Kennedy Delivered Remarks on America's Future in Iraq

In a speech before the Johns’ Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC, Senator Edward Kennedy laid out a realistic and responsible course for America’s future in Iraq. In his speech, Kennedy called for a serious course correction in Iraq, and invoked history’s lessons about the dangers of fighting a political war with a military solution, concluding that America’s overwhelming military presence has become a part of the problem, not part of the solution in Iraq.

Kennedy laid out a five point plan that sets fair and realistic goals for self-government in Iraq, and works with the Iraqi government on a specific timetable for the honorable homecoming of our forces.

• First, the Iraqis need to disengage from the United States politically, and we from them. The Bush Administration can’t continue to pull the strings in Iraq. We need to let them make their own decisions, reach their own consensus, and govern their own country. The first point in a new plan would be for the United Nations, not the United States, to provide assistance and advice on establishing a system of government and drafting a Constitution. An international meeting – led by the United Nations and the new Iraqi Government—should be convened immediately in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East to begin that process.
• Second, for democracy to take root, the Iraqis need a clear signal that America has a clear exit strategy. The President should say immediately that America intends no long-term presence.
• Third, once the elections are behind us, we need to disengage military, and negotiate a withdrawal. At least 12,000 American troops and probably more should leave immediately to send a signal about our intention. America’s goal should be to complete the drawdown as early as possible in 2006.
• Fourth, we need to conduct serious regional diplomacy with the Arab League and Iraq’s neighbors to head off external intervention in Iraq or the large-scale revenge killing of any group.
• Fifth, we need to train and equip an effective security force. The way to strengthen their allegiance is to give them a worthy cause to defend – a truly free, independent, and sovereign Iraq.

Through this plan, a democratic and stable Iraq emerge.

• Click to read Senator Ted Kennedy’s full speech
• Click to read how Senator Kennedy has lead the opposition to the War in Iraq
• Iraq Fact Sheet