U.S. Rep. Jim Leach says U.S. Needs To Leave Iraq As Soon As Possible
Instead of focusing on his campaign like other stump speakers at the Iowa State Fair this week, U.S. Rep. Jim Leach emphasized the need for the United States to withdraw from Iraq as soon as possible.
Leach, who voted in 2002 against the resolution that gave President Bush the authorization to use force in Iraq, said, “Sometimes force is used to establish order, but sometimes force becomes a magnet for instability, and I’m afraid, with each passing week, the magnet aspect of the use of force in Iraq may be increasing.”
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He called the case for finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq frail and pointed to a worldwide consensus that the American-led hunt was unsuccessful.
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Leach, a Davenport native who has represented parts of eastern Iowa in Congress for 28 years, believes the next step in Iraq should be a push for democratic elections in hopes of pulling out American troops by the end of the year.
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“My sense is that the basis for disengagement should be advancing democracy,” he said. “The longer we stay in Iraq, the more troublesome the circumstances will be in that country. … in the United States and in other parts of the world.”
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While Leach supports the call for a strong military in America, he believes that muscle should be balanced with caution and restraint rather than a tendency toward intervention.
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Leach’s opponent in this year’s 2nd Congressional District election, Democrat Dave Franker, said in his speech at the fair that the heart of the race is not focused on international politics, but rather on domestic issues directly affecting southeastern Iowans.
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Franker challenged many of Leach’s recent political decisions, insisting he would have voted differently.
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Franker called the 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill, which Leach supported, confusing and comparable to crumbs for Iowa seniors. Leach agreed that the voluntary program is confusing and imperfect, but not trivial.
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“The choice between food and medicine for poor Americans will disappear,” Leach said. “This is the first and only time that something significant has happened after almost two decades of debate on the subject. From a progressive perspective, it is not trivial.”
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In 2006, when the bill is fully implemented, low-income citizens will be able to obtain prescription drugs for a $1 co-payment, a benefit Leach considers “absolutely extraordinary, if not revolutionary.”
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The program, which Leach said is structured to be most beneficial to members of the lowest income bracket, is expected to assist almost half of the underprivileged elderly residents of rural Iowa.
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Franker also disagreed with the incumbent’s vote for the No Child Left Behind Act, which Leach said he supported because it included a 20 percent increase in funding for education.
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“Any opponent of mine can point out any area of federal spending and say that they would have supported more,” Leach said. “One of the dilemmas is, when you go to war, all the increases in spending are related to national security, externally and internally, which puts a great constraint on the capacity to do other things.”
By Kristin Hoelscher
Contact the city desk at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.
Leach, who voted in 2002 against the resolution that gave President Bush the authorization to use force in Iraq, said, “Sometimes force is used to establish order, but sometimes force becomes a magnet for instability, and I’m afraid, with each passing week, the magnet aspect of the use of force in Iraq may be increasing.”
.
He called the case for finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq frail and pointed to a worldwide consensus that the American-led hunt was unsuccessful.
.
Leach, a Davenport native who has represented parts of eastern Iowa in Congress for 28 years, believes the next step in Iraq should be a push for democratic elections in hopes of pulling out American troops by the end of the year.
.
“My sense is that the basis for disengagement should be advancing democracy,” he said. “The longer we stay in Iraq, the more troublesome the circumstances will be in that country. … in the United States and in other parts of the world.”
.
While Leach supports the call for a strong military in America, he believes that muscle should be balanced with caution and restraint rather than a tendency toward intervention.
.
Leach’s opponent in this year’s 2nd Congressional District election, Democrat Dave Franker, said in his speech at the fair that the heart of the race is not focused on international politics, but rather on domestic issues directly affecting southeastern Iowans.
.
Franker challenged many of Leach’s recent political decisions, insisting he would have voted differently.
.
Franker called the 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill, which Leach supported, confusing and comparable to crumbs for Iowa seniors. Leach agreed that the voluntary program is confusing and imperfect, but not trivial.
.
“The choice between food and medicine for poor Americans will disappear,” Leach said. “This is the first and only time that something significant has happened after almost two decades of debate on the subject. From a progressive perspective, it is not trivial.”
.
In 2006, when the bill is fully implemented, low-income citizens will be able to obtain prescription drugs for a $1 co-payment, a benefit Leach considers “absolutely extraordinary, if not revolutionary.”
.
The program, which Leach said is structured to be most beneficial to members of the lowest income bracket, is expected to assist almost half of the underprivileged elderly residents of rural Iowa.
.
Franker also disagreed with the incumbent’s vote for the No Child Left Behind Act, which Leach said he supported because it included a 20 percent increase in funding for education.
.
“Any opponent of mine can point out any area of federal spending and say that they would have supported more,” Leach said. “One of the dilemmas is, when you go to war, all the increases in spending are related to national security, externally and internally, which puts a great constraint on the capacity to do other things.”
By Kristin Hoelscher
Contact the city desk at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.
posted by R7 | 8/21/2004 01:44:00 AM
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