Clinton, Kerry Legislation Requires Pentagon to Prepare for Iraq Redeployment

July 20, 2007

Click here to listen to the Senators' press conference.

Washington, DC – During a joint conference call with reporters this afternoon Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) will announce their plan to introduce legislation that would force the Pentagon to prepare a report and briefing for Congress on contingency planning for redeploying troops from Iraq. This legislative effort is a direct result of Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman's unacceptable response to a Congressional inquiry on a matter of national security to Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, asking for the Pentagon to brief the appropriate oversight committees in Congress on what current contingency plans exist for the future withdrawal of United States forces from Iraq. Alternatively, if no such plans exist, the Congressional inquiry asked for an explanation for the decision not to engage in such planning. In response, Under Secretary Eric Edelman sent an unacceptable and outrageous political attack.

“From New Orleans to Baghdad, this Administration has made ‘planning’ a dirty word, and the damage to the United States has been immeasurable,” said Senator Kerry. “Now with American lives on the line in Iraq, the least we can do is force them to draw up contingency plans to redeploy American troops in Iraq. If there’s one lesson of the last six years, it’s with this Administration you can’t leave anything to chance. If the Pentagon can draw up plans to bomb Iran, the least they can do is have a plan to redeploy American troops.”

"Redeploying out of Iraq will be difficult and requires careful planning,” wrote Senator Clinton. “I continue to call on the Bush Administration to immediately provide a redeployment strategy that will keep our brave men and women safe as they leave Iraq – instead of adhering to a political strategy to attack those who rightfully question their competence and preparedness after years of mistakes and misjudgments."

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