Democrats say Bush's Iraq troop draw-down is too little too late

President Bush announced today that he is bringing 3,400 support personnel home from Iraq, with a Marine brigade to follow in November and an Army brigade in February, after he leaves office.

Democrats were not impressed.

Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee:

This small reduction in troop levels in Iraq and the continued apparent rejection of any timetable for further reductions is simply a continuation of the Bush administration's open-ended commitment in Iraq. It takes the pressure off of the Iraqi leaders to take the political steps essential to ending the conflict.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House:

After five and a half years of war, President Bush will leave office with nearly as many U.S. troops in Iraq as were there before the "surge" began in January 2007.  The continued heavy commitment of U.S. forces is hampering our ability to fight the real war against terrorism in Afghanistan, is hurting our military readiness, and is extending the strain of long deployments on our military families. The President is incapable of finding a way to make our troops the beneficiaries of whatever improvements there have been in security in Iraq.

And Sen. Barack Obama:

It's time to change our foreign policy. I will succeed in Iraq by responsibly removing our combat brigades and pressing Iraqis to stand up for their future. I will rebuild our military. I will finally have a comprehensive strategy to finish the job in Afghanistan.

...Last week we heard a lot of tough talk in St. Paul, but we didn't hear much about the Bush-McCain record. Because seven years after 9/11, we are still fighting a war without end in Iraq and we still haven't taken out the terrorists responsible for 9/11.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Eric Draper / White House