Posted on 11/09/2006 8:54:08 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
George McGovern, the former senator and Democratic presidential candidate, said Thursday that he will meet with more than 60 members of Congress next week to recommend a strategy to remove U.S. troops from Iraq by June.
If Democrats don't take steps to end the war in Iraq soon, they won't be in power very long, McGovern told reporters before a speech at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
"I think the Democratic leadership is wise enough to know that if they're going to follow the message that election sent, they're going to have to take steps to bring the war to a conclusion," he said.
McGovern will present his recommendations before the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a 62-member group led by Reps. Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee.
"The best way to reduce this insurgency is to get the American forces out of there," McGovern said. "That's what's driving this insurgency."
McGovern told the audience Thursday that the Iraq and Vietnam wars were equally "foolish enterprises" and that the current threat of terrorism developed because _ not before _ the United States went into Iraq.
McGovern's plan _ as written in his new book, "Out of Iraq: A Practical Plan for Withdrawal Now" _ also calls for the United States to remove hired mercenaries from the region, push for the removal of British troops and establish a temporary transitional force, similar to police, made up of Muslims from the region.
"I've talked with a lot of senior officers _ generals and admirals _ in preparation for this book, that say this war can't be won, that the problems now are not military problems," McGovern told reporters. "There isn't going to be any decisive victory in Iraq."
It is vital that Republican and Democratic legislators find common ground with one another and President Bush, McGovern said.
"Never let the new class of Democrats forget that they're there in considerable part because of the war the American public has now turned against," McGovern said. "That's going to have to be something that they have to explore with Republicans and with the White House."
McGovern, a former South Dakota congressman and senator, was a leading opponent of the war in Vietnam. He was the Democratic nominee for president in 1972, losing to Richard Nixon, and was ambassador to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome from 1998 to 2001.
Now I really need a barf bag.
I thought this senile, old bass turd had died. Geeesh! They not only vote but know they are coming back from the dead.
This clown is way past his expiration date. Eesh, I'm having flashbacks of Johnny Rivers singing "Come Home, America."
Now I am really mad at the 3rd party Libertarians running in several states that cost us those Senators.
This makes me want to hurl!
Isn't that what we've been doing for the past three years?
The Soviet supporters come out of the closet again...
Did this gasbag steal Kerry's plan??
Wow, where was this genius when we needed him? I can't believe we were all so stupid that we could not see this simple solution: We pull out our GIs, and the Arabs stop cutting each others' throats and blowing themselves up and go back to sipping tea and sucking on hookahs and humping camels, and all will be peaceful again.
I guess none of the little, zit-faced, young skulls full of mush were afraid to ask him about the first WTC bombing, the U.S.S. Cole and 09-11-01. Maybe they didn't want to hurt the senile old bass turd's feelings.
Man, I thought we were rid of this turkey. He's like a cockroach, he comes with darkness.
My only "protest vote" against my Republican parents. Thank God he lost and thank God, I woke up quickly after my first vote in a presidential election.
Don't blame me...I voted Republican.
He will say....send lots more HELICOPTERS this time....
Blaming third-party candidates = enabling some pubbies who made "Contract with America" not worth the paper it was written on. If we don't hold the failed candidates themselves responsible, we're not going to change anything for next election...
I quote "Monty Python's Holy Grail"; "Run away! Run away!"
What the f!@k is his plan?? Everybody meet in some freakin' field and sing, "I Want to Buy the World a Coke"?!! Freakin' has been!
NOW HERE IS A CUT AND RUN LEFTIST PIG IF THERE WAS EVER ONE. WHAT A PUKE. HOW IS THIS SLIME BALL STILL EVEN ON THE PLANET. HE IS A WORTHLESS, WIMP, SLIMEBAG, PIG COMMIE LEFTIST. PALS WITH THE VIETNAM ANTI-WAR BUNCH. HE CAN GO TO HELL. ACTUALLY, I THOUGHT HE WAS ALREADY DEAD AND THERE. WHAT A WORTHLESS PIECE OF CRAP. NIXON KICKED HIS ASS IN THE ELECTION.
Ye cats and little kittens! Is he still alive?? He's got to be as old as Methuselah! I voted for him when he ran for POTUS back when I was 18...and that wasn't last election, believe me.
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