Woolsey - "50,000 Residual Troops is Unacceptable"

Press Release

February 27, 2009

A Co-Founder of the Out of Iraq Caucus, and the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) today issued the following statement in response to remarks by President Obama regarding troops levels in Iraq:

"I welcome President Obama's announcement that he will step up to the promise that he made to the American public to bring our troops home from Iraq by 2010. The American public supported him in record numbers last November in large part due to his pledge to finally end our occupation of Iraq, and bring our brave men and women home to their families. At the same time, I am deeply troubled by the suggestion that a force of 50,000 troops could remain in Iraq beyond this timeframe. Call such a troop level what you will, but such a large number can only be viewed by the Iraqi public as an enduring occupation force. This is unacceptable.

"So long as the US is viewed as an occupier, the Iraqis will be unable to achieve the necessary unification, reconciliation, and further democratization efforts that will be required for them to bring long-term stability to the country. That's why the President must not only pledge to have all troops out by 2010, but invest in reconciliation efforts immediately, and ensure that these efforts work in parallel with the redeployment of combat troops. The faster that we can promote unification and reconciliation, the sooner we can bring all of our troops home. The American public and the Iraqi people have waited long enough, it's time to bring our troops and military contractors home to their families - all of them and as quickly as possible."

Source