Washington DC (November 19, 2005) – On MSNBC Hardball with Chris Matthews this Thursday, Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) revealed for the first time his Iraq exit plan. “Our plan for success is to set benchmarks of achievement which you reach. And as you reach those benchmarks of achievement, you can draw down American forces,” Senator Kerry laid out the key elements of his Iraq plan. However, Chris Matthews did not follow up and ask what exactly “those benchmarks are.” Fortunately, we have exclusively obtained the authentic text of Mr. Kerry’s plan from a high-ranking “unimpeachable source” inside his inner circle. The Kerry’s plan was surprisingly short, less than one page long. It contained only “three benchmarks of success” for withdrawal of American forces. According to Kerry’s plan, first benchmark "is reached when at least one Iraqi battalion can operate a convoy though Baghdad downtown without running red light, we would then immediately withdraw the US Stryker Brigade and the 25th Division.” The second benchmark "is achieved if the Iraqi Army can move one Iraqi brigade from Baghdad to Mosul in less than a month," then “the US MEF, the 10th Mountain and the 3rd Infantry Division” will be redeployed back to the States. The remainder of US Armed Forces will evacuate Iraq, when Mr. Kerry’s third and final “benchmark of achievement” is reached. This is the case when “Senator Kerry can do windsurfing in the Tigris river without wearing Kevlar jacket,” the plan specified.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Kerry’s Iraq exit plan in details
Washington DC (November 19, 2005) – On MSNBC Hardball with Chris Matthews this Thursday, Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) revealed for the first time his Iraq exit plan. “Our plan for success is to set benchmarks of achievement which you reach. And as you reach those benchmarks of achievement, you can draw down American forces,” Senator Kerry laid out the key elements of his Iraq plan. However, Chris Matthews did not follow up and ask what exactly “those benchmarks are.” Fortunately, we have exclusively obtained the authentic text of Mr. Kerry’s plan from a high-ranking “unimpeachable source” inside his inner circle. The Kerry’s plan was surprisingly short, less than one page long. It contained only “three benchmarks of success” for withdrawal of American forces. According to Kerry’s plan, first benchmark "is reached when at least one Iraqi battalion can operate a convoy though Baghdad downtown without running red light, we would then immediately withdraw the US Stryker Brigade and the 25th Division.” The second benchmark "is achieved if the Iraqi Army can move one Iraqi brigade from Baghdad to Mosul in less than a month," then “the US MEF, the 10th Mountain and the 3rd Infantry Division” will be redeployed back to the States. The remainder of US Armed Forces will evacuate Iraq, when Mr. Kerry’s third and final “benchmark of achievement” is reached. This is the case when “Senator Kerry can do windsurfing in the Tigris river without wearing Kevlar jacket,” the plan specified.
