Democratic Senate Challenger; member of State House
Opposed Iraq war from the very beginning, against Party
When the candidates were asked where their stance differs from their own party’s, Merkley mentioned having opposed the Iraq war from the very beginning. When Smith challenged that assertion,
Merkley shot back. “You know about that speech, yet you choose to mislead the citizens of this state,” he said. “We are mired in war. We are mired in debt.”
Source: 2008 Oregon Senate Debate reported by AP on KATU
Oct 9, 2008
Signed onto “A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq”
Jeff was the first US Senate candidate to sign onto “A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq”. The strategy to end the war and bring our sons and daughters home was authored by several distinguished military experts. Jeff has laid out a 5-point path fo
stability in the region that will redeploy American combat troops and engage the Iraqis in rebuilding their country.To secure the peace, Americans can’t be seen as an occupying force, so removing them from patrols and checkpoints should be job one.
Iraqis must feel they have a stake in their own future to move forward. Jeff’s 5-point path includes:
Remove all combat troops starting right away and completing the redeployment in 6 to 12 months;
Eliminate permanent US military bases in Iraq;
Engage Iraq’s neighbors in a diplomatic effort to secure the peace;
Remove all American contractors from the country and replace them with Iraqi contractors;
Direct our attention toward stronger engagement with the Iraqi Parliament and Courts.
Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, “Issues”
Jun 3, 2008
Opposed the war from the start
Merkley opposed Bush’s Iraq policy from the beginning. He called for bold diplomatic efforts before pursuing military strategy. Two days after the war began in 2003, Jeff Merkley gave a speech in the Oregon House calling for a critical of
Bush’s strategy: “Colleagues, I have not been and am not today persuaded that Iraq was a significant threat to the United States or that the war we fight today is the best strategy to fight terrorism or the wisest application of our superpower resources.
Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, “Issues”
Jun 3, 2008
Redeploy American combat troops out of Iraq
Jeff has laid out a five-point path for stability in the region that will redeploy American combat troops and engage the Iraqis in rebuilding their country. In order to secure the peace, Jeff knows Americans can’t be seen as an occupying force, so
removing them from patrols and checkpoints should be job one. And Iraqis must feel they have a stake in their own future in order to move forward. Read more.
Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, “Issues”
Mar 2, 2008
