Senator Norm Coleman Content with Permanent War in Iraq

As U.S. Senate debates resolution to change failed policy in Iraq and begin redeployment of U.S. Troops, Americans United for Change blasts Sen. Coleman's comments to NY Times: "I still have my concerns about the overall Iraq policy, but setting deadlines is the wrong thing to do." 

Washington D.C. - As the Bush administration's policies in Iraq continue to fail with tragic consequences amid an increasingly bloody civil war, and as the U.S. Senate debates a resolution to change course in Iraq and begin redeployment of U.S. Troops, Americans United for Change called U.S. Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) to the carpet for comments appearing in the New York Times today suggesting that the Senator is perfectly content with a permanent war in Iraq:

 

"I think it's a bad bill," said Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota, one of those Republicans. "I still have my concerns about the overall Iraq policy,  but setting deadlines is the wrong thing to do."

The resolution, ‘To revise United States policy on Iraq,' introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, states that the current conflict in Iraq requires a political solution, that Iraq must take responsibility for its own future, and that our troops should not be policing a civil war. The resolution contains binding language to direct the President to transition the mission for U.S. forces in Iraq and begin their phased redeployment within one-hundred twenty days with a goal of redeploying all combat forces by March 31, 2008. According to the resolution, a limited number of troops would remain for the purposes of force protection, training and equipping Iraqi troops, and targeted counter-terrorist options. *A full description of the Reid Joint Resolution is attached below. 

"There are few Americans left who don't believe that the Bush administration's policy in Iraq is anything less than a colossal failure and a tragedy that has had devastating consequences," said Brad Woodhouse, President of Americans United for Change. "Senator Norm Coleman is apparently one of the few.  On the central issue of the day - do you support setting a date certain for U.S. troop withdrawal in Iraq or do support staying the course? - Senator Coleman told the New York Times that he chooses the latter.  Opposing the Reid resolution for setting a timetable for troop withdrawal is the equivalent of supporting permanent war in Iraq.  Senator Coleman refuses to admit to himself what the vast majority of Americans have known for some time: the Bush-Iraq policy is broken beyond repair. He stands with Vice President Cheney, President Bush and their misguided allies in Congress who still expect a different result by ‘staying the course.' It is our hope that the Senator changes his own course immediately and supports efforts to get our troops out of the middle of a bloody civil war." 

Americans United for Change has been involved in the effort to change the course of the war in Iraq.  Last year, Americans United for Change was the first group to run television ads challenging Bush on his "stay the course" approach policy in Iraq at a time when the White House considered that their best and most compelling message on Iraq.  Americans United for Change most recently has opposed the President's decision to escalate the war in Iraq by inserting tens of thousands of additional U.S. combat forces into the throes of a violent civil war between Shiite militia's and Sunni extremists.

"Every since the American people resoundingly rejected the President's approach to Iraq in November, Norm Coleman has tried to straddle the fence on Iraq," said Woodhouse.  "He fell off the fence today and firmly into the Bush-Cheney camp of open ended commitment of American lives and treasure to a violent and bloody civil war with no end in sight.  There are only two positions left on Iraq - staying in open ended or responsibly getting out. At least we now know where Norm Coleman stands."   

       

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Reid Joint Resolution to Revise United States Policy on Iraq

Whereas Clauses

 

Redeployment of U.S. Forces From Iraq

 

New Comprehensive Strategy to Ensure Stability in Iraq