Feingold To Push New Congress On Troop Withdrawal

Russ Feingold (D-WI), one of the Senators to vote against the 2002 resolution authorizing the use of U.S. forces in Iraq, says he will once again introduce legislation to establish a timetable to withdraw troops from the civil war there.

“The American people sent a strong message in November to fix the administration’s failed Iraq policy, the same message I have heard from Wisconsinites at my listening sessions,” Feingold said. “So far, the administration has ignored that message and is considering sending more troops to Iraq – something that would run counter to our national security and the wishes of the American people. Congress can’t afford to make the same mistake. We must redeploy our troops from Iraq so that we can focus on serious threats to our security – in Somalia, Afghanistan and elsewhere – that have only grown while this Administration has been distracted in Iraq.”

Feingold has long been a voice for a real fight against global terrorism and has often cited numbers showing that al Qaeda has actually expanded its global presence since America began wasting time in Iraq. His legislation would require the Bush administration to submit a timetable for the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq within six months.

The bill would allow a minimal number of U.S. forces to remain in Iraq for targeted counter-terrorism activities, training of Iraqi security forces, and the protection of U.S. infrastructure and personnel.

Feingold has been calling for a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq since 2005.

"The way to win a war against global terrorist networks is not by keeping over 140,000 brave American troops in Iraq indefinitely," Feingold said. "The President's failed, Iraq-centric policies are preventing us from effectively countering serious threats around the world. We must change course, and the 110th Congress can start now by passing this bill to redeploy our troops from Iraq."