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John Edwards: McCain 'Dead Wrong' on Iraq
Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Thursday said former Senate colleague and current Republican candidate John McCain is "dead wrong" with his assessment of the Iraq war. McCain has repeatedly said the situation in Iraq is improving under a new U.S. commander and that Democrats are making a mistake for setting a deadline for withdrawal. "Sen. McCain is dead wrong. He's been wrong," Edwards said after making his first public appearance in Florida since announcing his candidacy in December. "He was wrong about the surge, he's been wrong about Iraq and he's wrong in the way he describes what's happening in Iraq right now." The House and Senate are preparing to send President Bush a bill that will set a deadline to withdraw troops next year. Bush has said he would veto any bill with a deadline.
Story Continues Below "The American people said very clearly in the election in November that they want a different course. The Congress is now meeting its responsibility," Edwards said. "The president needs to sign that legislation. If he vetoes it, they need to send him back similar legislation again." The former North Carolina senator, who was John Kerry's running mate in the 2004 presidential election, said he would immediately withdraw 40,000 to 50,000 of the 145,000 troops in Iraq and continue with a phased withdrawal over the next year. He also said he would talk with Iran, Syria and other Middle East countries about how to stabilize Iraq. McCain, an Arizona senator, has said setting a deadline will only benefit insurgents who are trying to drive out U.S. troops. "If John Edwards believes America can't win the war in Iraq, he should convince his Democratic counterparts, including Sens. (Barack) Obama and (Hillary) Clinton to immediately cut off funding for the war and bring the troops home," said McCain spokesman Danny Diaz. Edwards made his comments to reporters after he spoke to about 500 people at a community college. Little of his 24-minute speech dealt with Iraq. He instead focused on the need to provide health care for all Americans, addressed global warming and the need to reduce poverty. Iraq was the last issue he addressed and he spoke only a minute about the war, which he described as a meat grinder. "I have a really simple view of Iraq. America needs to be leaving Iraq," he said to loud applause.
© 2007 Associated Press.
Editor's note:
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
2008 Presidential Race Inside Cover Stories
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