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Voinovich calls for gradual withdrawal from Iraq
Politico ^ | 6/26/07

Posted on 06/26/2007 1:42:49 PM PDT by bnelson44

Following up on comments by Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Republican Sen. George Voinovich (Ohio) called today for President Bush to begin planning for a gradual withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraq.

In a letter to President Bush, the Ohio Republican said the president should adopt a policy of "responsible military disengagement with a corresponding increase [in] non-military support" to help the United States achieve a stable and democratic Iraq, although Voinovich warned that the window of opportunity for enacting such a plan is limited. "However, I am also concerned that we are running out of time," Voinovich added.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; US: Ohio
KEYWORDS: handwringers; iraq; lugar; voinovich
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To: offduty

Why would we ever want him back here?I had more than enough of him when he was mayor of Cleveland then governor.And all that while having to endure lil’Dennis!


41 posted on 06/26/2007 7:07:11 PM PDT by Farmer Dean (If there's lead in the air,there's hope.)
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To: xzins

Wonder what Sherrod had to say? BTW, seems to me Strickland’s minions having trouble holding on to their files. At least that didn’t happen when Taft was in office.


42 posted on 06/26/2007 7:17:09 PM PDT by cleveland gop (Dalton for Pres. '08!!! NBA Finals, AND the U.S. Open....IN THE SAME WEEK? Not bad.)
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To: cleveland gop

Here’s the letter he sent me:

Dear ____

Thank you for contacting me about my views on the current immigration proposals being considered by Congress.

I have supported legislation to curb illegal immigration by increasing criminal penalties for immigrant smuggling and document fraud, eliminating the use of government documents that are easily forged, and doubling the number of border patrol guards. Better enforcement and tougher penalties for both undocumented immigrants and their lawbreaking employers are the way to fight unauthorized employment, and employment opportunities are what drive illegal immigration.

Unless we fix the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and enforce our own labor laws, we will continue to debate how high the fence should be and how many agents should guard our border – with no real solution in sight. In 1994, the U.S. signed NAFTA, which promised, among other things, to help create a thriving middle class in Mexico. At that time there were 3 million undocumented workers in the U.S.; today there are more than 11 million. In Mexico, 9 million more live in poverty than when NAFTA was enacted. NAFTA has failed the U.S. and Mexico. By creating an atmosphere where Mexican citizens feel they have no chance of a successful life in Mexico, these ill-conceived trade agreements increase the number of illegal immigrants coming into our country.

In addition to addressing the forces that are compelling illegal immigration, we must take action to bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows. While I do not support amnesty and have serious concerns about guest worker programs, I do believe our nation should consider establishing a process by which illegal immigrants can eventually earn citizenship.

The solution to our immigration problem will not be a simple one, as many things in our country need to be fixed to stop illegal immigration. It is time to take a common sense approach to immigration reform.

The Senate recently considered S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, but there was no vote on the final bill. On June 7, 2007, the Senate voted 45 yeas to 50 nays on a cloture vote to limit debate on this bill. While I voted in favor of limiting debate so that the Senate could move on to other important legislative issues, I had serious reservations about the content of the bill and my vote on S. 1348 would have hinged on the final product. Because the cloture vote failed, S.1348 will not come up for a final vote. Should these issues come again before the Senate, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

Thank you again for contacting me.

Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown


43 posted on 06/26/2007 7:22:41 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
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To: xzins
so that the Senate could move on to other important legislative issues

That was actually a better letter than what I have received from Dewine OR Voinovich in the past. The part that I referenced was one part which confuses me. If this is such a big, important deal to fix for the sake of this country, why would we move on to ANY other issue until this one is done right. I mean, is there a quota of Bills which must make its way through Congress? Why can't we continue to debate and fix a Bill for months or even years if that's what it takes to get GOOD legislation?
44 posted on 06/27/2007 5:16:52 AM PDT by Eagle of Liberty (The United States of America is the only country strong enough to go it alone.)
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To: Kerretarded

The truth is that immigration is broken: actually, imho, the BORDER is broken. I think if we fix the border issue, there are plenty of other laws to deal with other immigrant issues.

The anchor baby thing is being touted as necessary by the 14th amendment. If that’s actually the case, then we’ll need to fix the 14th. My bet is that the 14th never was intended to make anchor babies possible.


45 posted on 06/27/2007 5:20:24 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
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To: CONSERVE

COOL! Thanks!


46 posted on 06/27/2007 5:25:34 AM PDT by Eagle of Liberty (The United States of America is the only country strong enough to go it alone.)
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To: xzins

I believe RINObitch is showing his true colors exactly because he does not plan to run in 2010. If he is running, his actions since 2004 have guaranteed that he will lose - if not in a primary then in the general.

He is just legacy building for when he retires back in Cleveland. He is trying to gain favor of the Media and NEO Democrats - who really shape the general opinions of the majority of Ohioans (i.e. the ill- and non-informed) - in order to be portrayed as an “independent” elder statesman.


47 posted on 06/27/2007 5:28:21 AM PDT by Dr. Free Market (Do the right thing, and let the chips fall where they may.)
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To: xzins
The truth is that immigration is broken: actually, imho, the BORDER is broken.

There is much fixing to do in a BUNCH of areas and this is where I get the most frustrated with our U.S. Congress. They go to Washington and instead of sitting down, fixing the crappy legislation many of the same Senators voted into the books and getting this country running more efficiently, they sit there and pretend to be in gridlock while nothing gets done.
48 posted on 06/27/2007 5:32:51 AM PDT by Eagle of Liberty (The United States of America is the only country strong enough to go it alone.)
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To: R.W.Ratikal
"While you are at it, work us up an exit plan for Germany, Japan and Korea."

And we need an exit plan for Bosnia. That's the place that Clinton told us that we had to go and invade a sovereign country, Yugoslavia, because of the mass graves of genocide of over 250,000 people, and there were no mass graves.

49 posted on 06/27/2007 5:43:05 AM PDT by avacado
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To: xzins

I email Voinivich often. No responses ever.
Brown, too, but I’m a registered Republican.
My daughter is still registered Democrat and he answers her email...

I worked hard to primary DeWhine last election. I will work even harder this time against Voinivich. The man ran as a fiscal conservative yet all he ever proposes is TAX INCREASES. He never met a spending bill he didn’t like and always asks how we’re going to pay for this.


50 posted on 06/27/2007 5:56:24 AM PDT by griswold3
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To: bnelson44
George V. Voinovich - Republican (Ohio)


Click to Contact


During Bolton's confirmation hearing Bolton could not get out of committee for a vote because of THIS "republican" and these are a few of his words as he broke into tears... literally

"But what message are we sending to the world community when in the same breath we have sought to appoint an ambassador to the United Nations who himself has been accused of being arrogant, of not listening to his friends, of acting unilaterally, of bullying those who do not have the ability to properly defend themselves? These are the very characteristics that we’re trying to dispel in the world community.

It is my concern that the confirmation of John Bolton would send a contradictory and negative message to the world community about U.S. intentions. I’m afraid that his confirmation will tell the world that we’re not dedicated to repairing our relationship or working as a team, but that we believe only someone with sharp elbows can deal properly with the international community.

And to those who say a vote against John Bolton is against reform of the U.N., I say, nonsense. There are many other people who are qualified to go to the United Nations that can get the job done for our country. Frankly, I’m concerned that Mr. Bolton would make it more difficult for us to achieve the badly needed reforms to this outdated institution. I believe that there could even be more obstacles to reform if Mr. Bolton is sent to the United Nations than if he were another candidate.

Another reason I believe Mr. Bolton is not the best candidate for the job is his tendency to act without regard for the views of others and without respect for the chain of command.

Who is to say that Mr. Bolton will not continue to stray off message as ambassador to the U.N.?

Who is to say he will not hurt rather than help U.S. relations with the international community and our desire to reform the U.N.?

I have concerns about Mr. Bolton’s ability to inspire and lead a team so that it can be as effective as possible in completing the important task before him.

And I’m not the only one.

There is no doubt that Mr. Bolton has serious deficiencies in the areas that are critical to be a good ambassador.

Mr. Chairman, I have to say that after poring over the hundreds of pages of testimony and — you know, I wasn’t here for those hearings, but I did my penance, I read all of it — I believe that John Bolton would have been fired if he’d worked for a major corporation. This is not the behavior of a true leader who upholds the kind of democracy that President Bush is seeking to promote globally. This is not the behavior that should be endorsed as the face of the United States to the world community and the United Nations. Rather, Mr. Chairman, it is my opinion that John Bolton is the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be.

We must recognize that to be successful in this war, one of our most important tools is public diplomacy.

After hours of deliberation, telephone calls, personal conversations, reading hundreds of pages of transcripts and asking for guidance from above, I have come to the determination that the United States can do better than John Bolton.
"



51 posted on 06/27/2007 7:02:20 AM PDT by FreedomNeocon (Success is not final; Failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts -- Churchill)
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To: bnelson44
This isn’t the first time he is weak on this issue... you can even just search FreeRepublic and find several stories over the past 8+ months that he was ‘frustrated’ about Iraq, teaming up with Biden and all.

He also voted FOR the illegal immigration bill, is for repealing the tax cuts, wants NEW taxes (to pay for the ‘bungled’ war), and crys like a little girl (no offense to little girls)

/SPIT

52 posted on 06/27/2007 7:04:39 AM PDT by FreedomNeocon (Success is not final; Failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts -- Churchill)
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To: xzins

I’ll not vote for the cry baby in the primaries!


53 posted on 06/27/2007 7:45:47 AM PDT by Edgerunner (If leftists don't like it, I do. Keep your powder dry...)
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To: R.W.Ratikal

So that’s why Iran is itching for a fight?


54 posted on 06/27/2007 10:27:13 AM PDT by Blue State Insurgent
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To: Las Vegas Dave

‘N.E. Ohio pings....
Voinovich says he’s presenting his proposal for a way out of Iraq in a letter to the president.

Cry me a river George...’

I wish he had left office with Bob ‘Tax Em!’ Taft.


55 posted on 06/28/2007 7:07:57 AM PDT by Badeye ("In 2 weeks, I join the list of UNEMPLOYED". ...Goldi-Lox (karma comes around))
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