[Mb-civic] Shelve This Deadline - Washington Post

[William Swiggard]

Shelve This Deadline

Iraq Has More Pressing Needs Than a Constitution

By Charles Krauthammer

Friday, July 1, 2005; Page A25

If George Bush did not flirt with withdrawal during last year's 
presidential campaign, when it looked as if Iraq might cost him his 
political career, he certainly will not do so as a second-term 
president. Americans know that. But the world may not. Particularly as 
it keeps hearing congressional voices calling for withdrawal, timetables 
and exit strategies.

Hence the president's nationally televised address to the nation Tuesday 
on Iraq. One purpose, of course, was to state, once again, the case for 
the war. But the most important line was the restatement of his position 
on withdrawal before victory: "This will not happen on my watch."So now 
we do have the timetable for withdrawal. We are signed on to Iraq into 
2008, when the contract comes up for renewal. If we are in roughly the 
same position in Iraq then as today, the 2008 campaign will become a 
referendum on withdrawal.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/30/AR2005063001682.html?nav=hcmodule
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