Kucinich outlines plan to get United States out of Iraq
Originally published in the Mercury News
Posted on Sat, Oct. 11, 2003
Kucinich outlines plan to get United States out of Iraq
AMY LORENTZEN
Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa - Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, stumping in Iowa, called for pulling the United States out of Iraq and putting the United Nations in charge of rebuilding the country.
"I believe that people across this country want us to get out of Iraq, that they want to end the occupation, that they are beside themselves at spending (more money) to continue the occupation," said Kucinich on Saturday.
The former Cleveland mayor plans to officially start his presidential campaign Monday in Cleveland City Council chambers. Also this week, he plans to vote against President Bush's $87 billion spending request for military operations and rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan.
In Iowa, where Jan. 19 precinct caucuses launch the presidential nominating season, Kucinich touted himself as the only Democratic presidential candidate with a plan to end the occupation of Iraq.
Kucinich's plan calls for Bush to hand over administrative and security responsibilities to the UN.
That includes allowing the UN to take control of the country's oil assets on behalf of the people of Iraq, and eliminating private contracts for rebuilding the nation, Kucinich said.
"The president's men have set up contracts to people who contribute to the election," Kucinich said. "They want to keep our troops there so their friends can make money."
The four-term congressman singled out Vice President Dick Cheney, former chief executive of Halliburton Co., a company that's received a $1.4 billion contract to restore Iraq's oilfields, according to government figures released early this month.
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