O: US 50,000 troop "residual force" in Iraq
Senate Democrats Surprised by Obama Plan to Leave Up to 50,000 Troops in Iraq
Senate Democrats want to hear an explanation from the White House as to why up to 50,000 troops would stay behind in Iraq.
By Trish Turner
FOXNews.com
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Senate Democrats expressed discontent Thursday with plans from the Pentagon to leave a residual force of up to 50,000 troops in Iraq, even as the military pursues a substantial drawdown.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters that he is heading to the White House later in the day to hear an explanation.
"I have been one who has called for significant cutbacks in Iraq for some time. And I am happy to listen to the secretary of defense, the president, but when they talk about 50,000, that's a little higher number than I had anticipated," Reid said.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also said he's waiting for hear a "justification" for why so many troops would stay behind.
"It has to be done responsibly, we all agree, but 50,000 is more than I would have thought," he said.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash, who voted against the Iraq war, unlike Reid and Schumer, took a more reserved tone, saying, "I want to hear what the president has to say ... but I do think we have to look carefully at the number that are there and do it as quickly as we can."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., voiced strong concern on Wednesday on an MSNBC show, calling the 50,000 residual force "an awful lot," though she noted that the president has not made an official statement on the plan, so "I don't know what the justification is for 50,000."
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