Issue Position: Iraq

Issue Position

Issue Position: Iraq

Senator Reed voted against giving President Bush the authority to go to war in Iraq because it was an ill-planned diversion from the war on terrorism. However, once our combat forces were committed, Reed, a graduate of West Point and former Captain in the U.S. Army, consistently urged the President to better manage the war and provide our troops with the resources they need to get the job done. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, he has visited Iraq ten times to meet with our soldiers, including Rhode Islanders serving overseas, and commanders on the ground. Our military troops have done and continue to do an extraordinary job. But they can't do it without a comprehensive political and economic solution, and only the Iraqis themselves can accomplish this goal. Along with Senator Levin of Michigan, Senator Reed is the co-author of a plan to refocus the mission and begin the phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq. This proposal would protect American interests and give the Commander-in-Chief flexibility to bring our troops home in a safe, speedy, and successful manner.

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