Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell says he’s been invited to visit with President Bush this afternoon to discuss the president’s speech tonight on the plan for Iraq. Boswell says he can’t make a definitive statement on the troop issue in Iraq until he’s heard the president’s thoughts.
Boswell says he wants to talk hear from the president this afternoon and then tonight — but Boswell does say he has "serious doubts" about sending more troops to Iraq. Boswell, a democrat, says he wants Iraq to stand on its own feet.
Boswell says the focus should be on training Iraqi troops to take over and he says the administration has said there are two to 300-thousand trained Iraqis ready to take over, so Boswell says he needs to be convinced of the need for more U.S. troops. Boswell says he heard over one year ago that there were enough trained Iraqis to take over.
Boswell says he asked the Secretary of Defense, Vice President and President, if there are really thousands of trained troops, then what is the plan for bringing U.S. troops home? Boswell says the room fell silent at his question. Boswell says he hopes to hear that the president has a plan now.