Sept. 26 Democratic debate transcript

Russert: Senator Edwards, will you commit that at the end of your first term, in 2013, all U.S. troops will be out of Iraq?

John Edwards: I cannot make that commitment.  But I -- well, I can tell you what i would do as president.  When I'm sworn into office, come January of 2009, if there are, in fact, as General Petraeus suggests, 100,000 American troops on the ground in Iraq, I will immediately draw down 40,000 to 50,000 troops; and over the course of the next several months, continue to bring our combat out of Iraq until all of our combat are, in fact, out of Iraq.

Edwards: I think the problem is -- and it's what you just heard discussed -- is we will maintain an embassy in Baghdad.  That embassy has to be protected.  We will probably have humanitarian workers in Iraq.  Those humanitarian workers have to be protected.

I think somewhere in the neighborhood of a brigade of troops will be necessary to accomplish that, 3,500 to 5,000 troops.

But I do say, I want to add to things you just heard.  I think it is true that everyone up here wants to take a responsible course to end the war in Iraq.  There are, however, differences between us, and those differences need to be made aware.  Good people have differences about this issue.

For example, I heard Senator Clinton say on Sunday that she wants to continue combat missions in Iraq.  To me, that's a continuation of the war.  I do not think we should continue combat missions in Iraq.

Edwards: And when I'm on a stage with the Republican nominee, come the fall of 2008, I'm going to make it clear that I'm for ending the war.  And the debate will be between a Democrat who wants to bring the war to an end, get all American combat troops out of Iraq, and a Republican who wants to continue the war.

Russert: Governor Richardson...

Clinton: Well, Tim, could I just clarify that, you know, I said there may be a continuing counterterrorism mission, which, if it still exists, will be aimed at Al Qaida in Iraq.  It may require combat, special operations forces or some other form of that.  But the vast majority of our combat troops should be out.

Edwards: But, can I just say that my only point is -- I don't have any doubt that Senator Clinton wants to take a responsible course.  There is a difference, however, in how we would go about this.  And I think Democratic primary voters are entitled to know that difference.

And the difference is really very simple.  I would have our combat troops out of Iraq over a period of several months, and I would not continue combat missions in Iraq.

Combat missions mean that the war is continuing.

Edwards: I believe this war needs to be brought to an end.

Russert: Would you send combat troops back in if there was genocide?

Edwards: I believe that America, along with the rest of the world, would have a responsibility to respond to genocide.  It's not something we should do alone.  In fact, if we do it alone, it could be counterproductive.

In fact, if I can go one step further beyond what you just asked, I think the president of the United States -- and I, as president -- would have a responsibility as we begin to bring our combat troops out of Iraq to prepare for two possibilities.

One is the possibility that -- the worst possibility -- which is that genocide breaks out.  Shia try to systematically eliminate the Sunni.  I think we need to be preparing for that with the international community now, not later.

And second, the possibility if this war starts to spill outside the borders of Iraq, and that's a very difficult thing to contain because we know historically that it's difficult to contain a civil war.

Russert: Governor Richardson, you have said that you will bring home all troops within a year.  You've heard your three other opponents say they can't do it in four years.

Bill Russert: How can you do it in one year?

Richardson: Well, I have a fundamental difference with Senator Obama, Senator Edwards and Senator Clinton.  Here's my position: Their position basically is changing the mission; my position in bringing all troops out of Iraq is to end the war.

The American people want us to end this war.  Our kids are dying -- the bloodiest last three months.

And my position is this: that you cannot start the reconciliation of Iraq, a political settlement, an all-Muslim peacekeeping force to deal with security and boundaries and possibly this issue of a separation, which is a plan that I do believe makes sense, until we get all our troops out, because they have become targets.

And I also disagree with Senator Clinton.  I don't believe the Congress has done enough to end this war.

Russert: But, Governor, and then my question is: How are you going to do this in one year?

Richardson: We have been able to move our troops, within three months, 240,000, in and out of Iraq, through Kuwait.

This is what I would do.  I would bring them out through roads, through Kuwait and through Turkey.  It would take persuading Turkey.  The issue is light equipment.  I would leave some of the light equipment behind.

But I believe what is fundamental here is that leaving any troops behind will prevent us from moving forward to secure some kind of stability in the region.  I would invite Iran.  I would invite Syria. And I would make sure that the entire issue is also tied to stability in the Israeli-Palestinian issue.  You cannot deal with the Iraq issue alone.  You have to deal with it with the entire region.

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