The cost of the Bush Administration's failed Iraq policy in American lives and dollars has greatly weakened our nation's military, international standing, and financial stability.

     This includes assuring we are putting needed resources in Afghanistan, engaging proactively with nations such as Syria and Iran to ensure our national security interests are protected, improving our intelligence capacity, working to build the economies of nations in the Middle East and southeast Asia, and slashing our dependence on foreign energy sources from unstable regimes in South America, Central Asia and the Middle East.

     I strongly oppose the Bush/Sununu agenda to escalate our military presence in Iraq.  I believe a planned, phased withdrawal and redeployment of our forces is the proper course of action.  We must begin to bring our troops home now while properly preparing the Iraqi government to assume genuine national autonomy.

     There are few priorities higher for America than effectively and aggressively fighting and winning the War on Terror.  We must not be afraid to openly discuss the best way to do that, including beginning the process of bringing our troops home from Iraq.