By Steve Vogel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 13, 2006; B04
Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) yesterday called on the Bush administration to immediately begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and adopt a plan to pull American combat forces out of the country by the end of 2007.
In a speech at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, the U.S. Senate candidate also urged President Bush to withdraw half of the 130,000 American troops in Iraq -- including all National Guard units -- by the end of this year.
"We call upon the president to make an immediate change in direction in Iraq," Cardin said. "There's time to change direction; we need to do it now, and we need to bring our troops home."
Cardin, one of six Democrats seeking to replace retiring Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes (D-Md.), was an early opponent of the war in Iraq and voted in October 2002 against authorizing Bush to use force. His Democratic rivals have nonetheless criticized him for supporting bills to pay for the war. Yesterday's speech marked the first time Cardin named target dates for pulling out U.S. forces.
Cardin will describe his plan on the floor of the House of Representatives later this week, aides said.
"It's clear to everyone that we need a new policy in Iraq, except to the president of the United States, who says we should stay the course," Cardin said.
Cardin stopped short of calling his plan a timetable, saying he does not set specific dates for withdrawals by different units.
A spokesman for Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, the leading Republican contender in the Senate race, mocked that contention, calling it "Washington double-talk."
"He's put forth a timetable while saying it's not a timetable," said Steele spokesman Doug Heye. "I don't know how anyone could argue that's not a timetable."
Steele, for his part, is trying to distance himself from the Bush policy in Iraq and counter Democratic criticism that the lieutenant governor is closely allied to the president, whom opinion polls have shown is unpopular in Maryland. Steele has not called for a timetable for withdrawal but has "called for acceleration of an exit strategy" from Iraq, Heye said. "He believes it's wrong to assume that troops will stay indefinitely."
A spokesman for former congressman and NAACP leader Kweisi Mfume, Cardin's chief rival for the Democratic nomination to succeed Sarbanes, said Cardin had adopted a position long held by Mfume.
"We're glad that Mr. Cardin has finally come around to our position for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq," said Mark Clack, Mfume's communications director. "After many months of Mr. Mfume being the lone voice calling for an exit strategy, he welcomes Mr. Cardin's response."
Cardin spokesman Oren Shur replied, "Ben Cardin has opposed the war in Iraq from Day One -- and, unlike his opponents, Ben has a voting record to prove it."
Cardin said his proposal was not a response to pressure from voters. "The political consequences of this are unclear, but I think the American people want the troops home," Cardin said after the speech.
Cardin's proposal calls for the United States to organize a peace conference seeking more cooperation from the international community in rebuilding Iraq. "We've suffered dramatically because we failed to get the proper support internationally," he said.
Cardin also called for proper medical care and support for veterans returning from Iraq, saying the Bush administration had cut funding for veterans' health care.
Setting a pullout plan, he said in a campaign statement, "will send an important message to the Iraqi security forces, Iraqi government and the Iraqi people that American troops will not remain indefinitely and that Iraqis are ultimately responsible for the future of their nation."
