Candidate | Position on Iraq War |
US Senator Joe Biden | Now calls his 2002 voted to authorize the war a mistake. Wants a federalized Iraq with Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis having their own states, linked with a phased redeployment of most US troops out of Iraq by the end of 2007. Opposes permanent bases in Iraq. |
US Senator Hillary Clinton | Voted to authorize the war in 2002. Has not called it a mistake. Supports capping troop levels at the January 2007 level and legislation to demand troop withdrawals begin in 90 days or to create an October 2007 deadline, at which point Congressional authorization for the war will expire. Opposes permanent bases in Iraq. |
US Senator Chris Dodd | Now calls his 2002 voted to authorize the war a mistake. Wants US troops moved out of urban centers, into more rural and stable areas of Iraq, and most troops out of Iraq by March 2008. Opposes permanent bases in Iraq. |
Former US Senator John Edwards | Now calls his 2002 vote to authorize the war a mistake. Has called on Congress to cap troops at 100,000 and immediately begin withdrawing the rest. Within a year, all remaining troops would be brought home, US military bases would be shut, and the US would strive toward a political solution through intra-Iraq diplomacy and engagement with Iraq’s neighbors, including Iran and Syria. |
Former US Senator Mike Gravel | Opposed the war from the beginning. Wants all US troops home within 60 days, combined with aggressive diplomacy. |
US Representative Dennis Kucinich | Voted against authorizing the war in 2002. Wants immediate withdrawal of US troops, closing of military bases in Iraq, a process of national reconciliation, and all contracting work turned over to the Iraqi government combined, with regional and international diplomacy. |
US Senator Barack Obama | Opposed the war from the beginning. Wants all combat troops out by March 2008. Supports efforts to end the conflict through strengthening democratic institutions, political negotiation and engagement with regional neighbors and international allies. Opposes permanent bases in Iraq. |
Governor Bill Richardson | Knowing what he knows now, he would have opposed the war authorization in 2002. Wants Congress to de-authorize the war and wants all the troops out in six months, as well as a national reconciliation process and regional diplomacy.
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