Iraq exit strategy language adopted to the Democratic platform
The following is a press release from July 9, 2004, by the Kucinich campaign
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Iraq exit strategy language adopted to the Democratic platform
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2004
Contact: Tim Carpenter, (413) 320-2015, Andy Juniewicz (216) 409-8992, (216) 221-6598, Ajuniewicz@aol.com, Chris Ortman, (513) 382-8789
Under pressure from the Kucinich for President campaign and a broad-based coalition of grassroots Democratic activists, the Democratic Party adopted an amendment to its national platform today declaring its intention to reduce U.S. military presence in Iraq and to push for a greater role for NATO and other nations.
"This is significant towards ending the occupation and bringing American troops home," said Kucinich Deputy Campaign Manager Tim Carpenter, one of the lead negotiators for the coalition, united under the name "Progressive Democratic Caucus."
Despite intense efforts by the Kerry campaign to thwart the grassroots activists from introducing strong language regarding the withdrawal of U.S. forces and an end to the occupation, Party leaders eventually agreed to a troop-reduction amendment to avoid a potentially contentious open debate on the floor of the Platform Committee meeting. "Instead of talking about the possibility of sending even more U.S. troops to Iraq, the Party has now publicly committed itself and its nominee to reducing our military presence there," Carpenter said.
Kucinich's presidential campaign centered on his opposition to the Iraq war and the occupation. The Ohio Congressman has been calling for an exit strategy since last October and said today, after the platform was adopted, that "the grassroots will continue to push the Democratic Party on this issue until the occupation ends and American soldiers are brought home."
To this end, the Kucinich campaign, in cooperation with other organizations, is planning a week-long series of workshops, forums, and street actions in Boston during the Democratic National Convention to continue pushing for reform within the party and to mobilize opposition to President Bush's war.
The two-day Platform Committee meeting at the Westin Resort in Hollywood, Florida ended today. The national convention begins on July 26
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