WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Two leading U.S. Democrats have spoken out against Sen. Edward Kennedy's call for a troop withdrawal from Iraq by 2006, the Washington Times reports.
"As far as setting a timeline, as we learned in the Balkans, that's not a wise decision, because it only empowers those who don't want us there. And it doesn't work well to do that," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who spoke alongside Reid in Washington, said the critical element is having a clear set of goals.
"It's not about a calendar -- it's about performance," Pelosi said.
The two were responding to remarks Kennedy made Thursday when he said the country should withdraw 12,000 troops immediately and complete a full withdrawal by early 2006.
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan later said it will be up to the commanders on the ground and the Iraqi government to decide troop levels. He said setting a specific timetable would "send the wrong message to the terrorists because all the terrorists have to do is wait, and then they can plan and coordinate and prepare attacks around those timetables."
