John Kerry on the Casey Plan for Iraq Redeployment, the Maliki Timetable -- "We Were Right"

The Iraqi Prime Minister unveiled a unity program today, which includes a timeline for American troops to withdraw from Iraq. Earlier I reported on the news that Gen. George W. Casey Jr. has "drafted a plan that projects sharp reductions in the United States military presence there by the end of 2007, with the first cuts coming this September>

John Kerry issued a statement a short time ago on both the Casey plan for troop withdrawal and the Maliki timetable, noting that the "news reminds us again that we were right":

"The Republican attack dogs have some explaining to do and our troops deserve answers. Last week Republicans on Capitol Hill blanketed the airwaves attacking proposals for deadlines and timetables in Iraq.

But as Republicans attacked with rhetoric rather than attack the Iraq quagmire itself, the new Iraqi government was considering timetables for most American combat troops to leave, and our top military commander in Iraq was outlining plans to do exactly that. The same general who told Congress last fall that the large American troop presence delays the Iraqis standing up for themselves has now put forward a plan for us to stand down, and Administration officials leaked it to the nation's newspapers.

These plans look an awful lot like what the Republicans spent the last week attacking. Will the partisan attack dogs now turn their venom and disinformation campaign on General Casey? What will the Republican Congress say to Prime Minister Maliki? Will they label them the 'cut and run' military and the 'cut and jog' Iraqi government? Enough is enough.

I'm proud that Democrats insisted on a real Iraq debate last week, and this weekend’s news reminds us again that we were right. It's time to redeploy. It's time for realistic timetables rather than open-ended commitments. In fact, deadlines help get the job done in Iraq while Republican slogans are only designed to get the job done in November here at home.

No more slogans, no more hollow partisan attacks, no more questioning the patriotism of those who speak out. We owe our troops a policy, not a partisan slogan."

Kerry is right - "Enough is enough." From the Republican stand point, when the Democrats call for withdrawal of the troops it's "cut and run," let's see them stand up and have the audacity to "label them [Pentagon] the 'cut and run' military."

We can't say it enough... The Republican party is the party of the Hypocrites.