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July 9, 2007

Sen. Reed shares observations on Iraq

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Jack Reed will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. to talk about his observations from his 10th war-time visit to Iraq.

The Rhode Island Democrat, who just returned from a three-day tour of the country today, is also expected to preview this week's renewal of fight on Senate floor over efforts to force President Bush to change course in Iraq.

The press conference comes as the Senate begins its discussion of the 2008 defense authorization bill.

In a conference call from Baghdad with reporters Saturday, Reed said "time is running out'' for the tactical gains from President Bush's surge strategy to produce lasting political progress in Iraq, as one of this year's deadliest insurgent bombings hit north of the capital city.

Reed said his talks with top U.S. officials and his meetings with reconstruction and fighting units have deepened his belief that U.S. troop withdrawals should begin this fall, as a starting point for a shift to a markedly smaller and more modest mission in the war by spring.

With Sen. Carl Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Reed will again offer an amendment requiring troop withdrawals from Iraq to begin, with a nonbinding goal of shifting to a more modest mission — and a far smaller force — by next spring.

Reed, a former Army Ranger and a West Point graduate, is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

-- With reports from John E. Mulligan, Journal Washington bureau

Posted by Andrea Panciera  at 4:13 PM | Permalink

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