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Edwards Promises Contingency Plan for Iraq in Case Things Go 'In Wrong Direction' after Troop Withdrawal

February 25, 2007 2:28 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Appearing Sunday morning on CBS' "Face the Nation," former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., said that while pursuing a phased troop withdrawal from Iraq, he would prepare a containment strategy in case the situation goes "in the wrong direction".

"I think no one knows what’s going to happen," Edwards told CBS’ Bob Schieffer when asked what would happen if his recommendations were followed in Iraq. "What we’re doing -- what I’m doing -- is using my best judgment under very difficult circumstances. And as president, the first thing I would do is say to the American people, ‘we cannot predict with any certainty what will happen.'"

"What I would do if I were president today," Edwards continued, "is draw down 40,000 to 50,000 troops out of the north and south, continue over time a redeployment -- over about a year or so -- a redeployment of our combat troops out of Iraq. I would maintain a presence in Kuwait, probably redeploy some troops to Afghanistan where we need some additional help, maintain a Naval presence in the Persian Gulf. And while I was doing that, I would engage the Iranians and the Syrians directly -- both of whom have an interest in a stable Iraq particularly with America leaving Iraq. I will say that it’s also the responsibility of the president, while that is occurring – or whatever path we’re on -- to prepare a plan -- a strategy -- to deal with containment in case this thing does, in fact, go in the wrong direction because it could -- no matter what course we take -- that could happen, we have to be prepared for that."

Asked by Schieffer if a person can run for president while saying that he does not know what will happen in Iraq if U.S. troops leave, Edwards said, "It’s the truth. It's clearly the truth. I mean, I think the American people know that. I have, I guess, enough faith in our people to think they can accept the truth. I think it’s really important for our next president to be viewed as open and honest and decent to reestablish the trust relationship between Americans and their president. And, by the way, I think it’s also going to be crucial fore that relationship to be reestablished between the president of the United States and the rest of the world."

February 25, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (0)

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