U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley calls the withdrawal of troops from Iraq next year “realistic.” Grassley says the U.S. started winding down its operation in Iraq in June of 2004 from the standpoint we’re not an occupying power. He says we’re facilitating the development of a democratic government and training their troops to defend themselves.
Grassley says there’s talk in Washington D.C. of setting a date for withdrawal. He says America doesn’t want to leave Iraq shorthanded but needs to “send a signal that you’ve gotta’ be prepared to defend yourself.” Grassley says the time period being discussed for withdrawl is early 2007.
Grassley says it’s not a case of supporting the idea but of the plan being the “evolution of a realistic approach.” The Iowa Republican says we’ve pulled 23-thousand soldiers from Iraq since that nation’s last election and the goal is to get down to 100-thousand troops in 2006.