Coleman says long presence in Iraq 'reality'

2007-07-15

Source: Pioneer Press

Minnesota's Republican U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman said Thursday the United States will have a long-term presence in Iraq but may see a change of mission.

"We are going to be in Iraq a long time. I am not supporting dates, specific dates, timetables for withdrawal," he said. "When my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about redeployment, they are talking about getting out of Iraq. I'm not. And simply because that's the reality."

Those who say U.S. troops must be out of Iraq by September are "missing reality," he said.

Coleman, like some of his Republican colleagues also up for re-election in 2008, has been under pressure from largely Democratic-friendly groups and Democratic opponents to change his views on the Iraq war.

On Wednesday, his most high-profile opponents - Democrats Al Franken and Mike Ciresi - strongly criticized Coleman's Iraq stance.

"I urge you to change your position and support our troops by voting to bring them home," Franken wrote in a letter to Coleman.

"I ask Norm Coleman to tell Minnesotans his vision for finding a common-sense solution to the civil war in Iraq," Ciresi said in a statement.

"Those comments aren't going to impact me," Coleman said.

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