Kucinich: Bring Troops Home
Originally published in the Des Moines Register
Kucinich: Bring troops home
The presidential candidate also spoke about education and renewable energy.
By LYNN OKAMOTO
Register Staff Writer
07/28/2003
Ottumwa, Ia. - It's time to bring American troops home from Iraq, Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said Sunday at a nationally televised forum in Ottumwa.
"This is the time for us to rejoin the world community, rejoin the United Nations and get our troops out of there," said Kucinich, an Ohio congressman, at a forum hosted by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa and televised by C-SPAN. "I don't like the fact that our men and women are being used for targets."
Kucinich's comments came as yet another U.S. solider was killed early Sunday south of Baghdad. According to the Associated Press, 163 U.S. soldiers have now died in Iraq, including 48 killed since President Bush declared major combat over on May 1.
Springdale resident Clara Oleson, one of about 200 who attended Sunday's 90-minute forum, grew frustrated after an hour had passed and no one had talked about the war. The discussion focused instead on the economy, health care, education and renewable energy.
"George W. Bush is ready to blow up this world in our name and we're sitting here asking about prescription drugs," Oleson said. "The vast majority of people watching this are never going to vote for you or anyone else because the disbelief and the disenchantment is that great."
Kucinich said he understands the anger in this country. He led an effort in the U.S. House of Representatives that challenged the Bush administration's move toward war with Iraq, and "I continue to challenge this administration on a daily basis on why we're there and on the tremendous effect this is having on our nation and our families."
Kucinich's call for the return of U.S. troops stands in contrast to former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, another opponent of the war who has said the United States can't withdraw from Iraq now, because that could lead to chaos.
Dean said he would replace reserves with Muslim troops from places such as Egypt, Morocco and Malaysia.
Nine candidates are vying for the 2004 Democratic nomination for president; five opposed the war. The other four, Joseph Lieberman, John Kerry, Dick Gephardt and John Edwards, voted in favor of a resolution last fall that granted Bush authority to attack Iraq.
Aside from the war, Kucinich called Sunday for "deep, fundamental change" and echoed themes from his standard stump speech.
"If people elect me president, there will be real changes," he said.
He called for cutting the Pentagon's budget by $60 billion to pay for universal pre-kindergarten and canceling President Bush's $1.5 trillion in tax cuts in favor of universal college education. Kucinich said universal health care can be achieved with a system administered by the federal government.
Kucinich also said Sunday that the United States should have 20 percent of its energy produced from renewable sources by 2010.
Kucinich is in the bottom tier of candidates in terms of fund-raising and national polls. However, some Democratic activists have referred to him as an "up-and-comer" in Iowa, home to the first-in-the nation presidential caucuses Jan. 19.
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