Kerry withdrawal pledge sharpens Iraq debate

Yahoo! News - Kerry withdrawal pledge sharpens Iraq debate

"WASHINGTON (AFP) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites)'s pledge to slash US troop levels in Iraq (news - web sites) by next August has sharpened a debate over the war that had produced bitter exchanges but no hint of an exit strategy."

The pledge to bring the troops home within six months is the best campaign promise yet. Kudos to Kerry for bringing a troop reduction plan into the debates. Why does Sen. John McCain suggest that more troops might be needed? Ralph Nader offers a perspective: Nader asked: "Is there no end to John Kerry's me-too-ism on the Iraq War?" How long will the troops remain? Throughout the first term of the presidency? More? Less? Which is it? Why?