Felix the Cat
12-09-2005, 01:53 PM
President Carter doubts U.S. military will ever leave Iraq (http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--iraqcarter1207dec07,0,2059447,print.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork)
WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Former President Jimmy Carter said he doubts whether the U.S. military will ever completely pull out of Iraq.
Carter's comments came Tuesday during a brief visit at the U.S. Military Academy where he signed copies of his newest book for West Point cadets. The former president said he believes America will have a major military presence in Iraq for decades to come.
"There has never been a single declaration among the higher levels of government now that we ever intend to withdraw completely our military forces from Iraq," Carter told reporters.
"My belief, and it may be erroneous ... is that the top leadership in this country intends 20 years from now, 50 years from now, we'll still have a major military presence in Iraq."
In a speech last week at the U.S. Naval Academy, President Bush told midshipmen: "We will increasingly move out of Iraqi cities, reduce the number of bases from which we operate and conduct fewer patrols and convoys."
But, Bush also remained strongly opposed to imposing a deadline for leaving Iraq.
"Many advocating an artificial timetable for withdrawing our troops are sincere _ but I believe they're sincerely wrong," he said. "Pulling our troops out before they've achieved their purpose is not a plan for victory."
WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Former President Jimmy Carter said he doubts whether the U.S. military will ever completely pull out of Iraq.
Carter's comments came Tuesday during a brief visit at the U.S. Military Academy where he signed copies of his newest book for West Point cadets. The former president said he believes America will have a major military presence in Iraq for decades to come.
"There has never been a single declaration among the higher levels of government now that we ever intend to withdraw completely our military forces from Iraq," Carter told reporters.
"My belief, and it may be erroneous ... is that the top leadership in this country intends 20 years from now, 50 years from now, we'll still have a major military presence in Iraq."
In a speech last week at the U.S. Naval Academy, President Bush told midshipmen: "We will increasingly move out of Iraqi cities, reduce the number of bases from which we operate and conduct fewer patrols and convoys."
But, Bush also remained strongly opposed to imposing a deadline for leaving Iraq.
"Many advocating an artificial timetable for withdrawing our troops are sincere _ but I believe they're sincerely wrong," he said. "Pulling our troops out before they've achieved their purpose is not a plan for victory."