Kerry to Forgo 2008 Presidential Campaign

Instead the Senator says he will focus his attention on the war in Iraq.

Salem-News.com

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass) has renewed his call for an exit strategy that will bring our troops back from Iraq and said he will seek to force the President to set a date for withdrawing troops. He said Congress must not just stop the President’s escalation of the war but also preserve our core national security interests by removing our forces in a staged way that allows Iraqi troops to take over security responsibilities. Kerry said he will soon introduce legislation with a comprehensive strategy for achieving a political solution and creating a deadline for getting our troops home. Kerry's legislation would call for a full scale diplomatic initiative in the region. His plan also allows for sufficient U.S. troops to remain in Iraq to handle special operations, continue training of Iraqi security forces and protect U.S. interests and bases in Iraq. "Smart diplomacy and a sharp deployment of our troops is the only way out of this mess," Kerry said. "The president must set a firm deadline and until we do the Iraqi people will never take seriously their responsibility for their country and their political future. It’s time to give Iraq back to the Iraqis and stop asking brave American men and women to serve as referees in a bloody civil war." Kerry also said the Bush administration must seek a new authorization for the war. He's a co-sponsor of legislation written by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass) that would cut off new federal spending for the Iraqi war escalation. Kerry said he does not support making any changes to current funding levels for any deployed troops but is a strong supporter of halting the Iraq war escalation by limiting new funds. At the end of his remarks, Kerry said that he would remain in the Senate to concentrate on the issue of Iraq and would forgo mounting a run for the presidency. He said he is running for reelection for his Senate seat, which is up in 2008.