Presidential Candidate Bill Richardson's Stand on Iraq

Presidential candidate Bill Richardson believes we need to remove our troops from Iraq. He has a seven point plan to accomplish this. First, he would de-authorize the war. After that happens he would withdrawal the troops in six months of the de-authorization. This requires no residual forces are left behind. [www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/Iraq]

Next he wants to promote an Iraq reconciliation and work with Iraq's neighbors and our allies. Then we need to create global cooperation in reconstruction. We also should re-deploy our troops to address real threats. Following his plan Richardson says will help redirect the eight billion dollars spent each month in Iraq to matters of importance. [www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/Iraq]

In order to de-authorize the Iraq war Congress should assert and use its constitutional authority. They can do this by passing a resolution which will accomplish this task under Article I of the US Constitution and the War Powers Act. [www.richardsonforpresident.com/isssues/Iraq]

According to Richardson Congress should plan for a date that the troops should be pulled out. We need to appropriate our funds for re-deployment of troops. This presidential candidate and his military advisors think they can completely re-deploy all troops within six months. [www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/Iraq]

He says, "Our continued presence in Iraq only fuels the insurgency, strengthens Al Queda, and enables the Iraq factions to delay making the hard political choices they need to make to end the civil war." [www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/Iraq]

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani disagrees about setting a date saying, "setting an artificial time table for withdrawal from Iraq now would be a terrible mistake because it would embolden our enemies." [http://www.joinrudy2008.com/index.php?section=2]