WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Democratic calls for a quick end to the war in Iraq oversimplify the problems to be faced by the next U.S. president, it was reported Sunday.
While the calls for withdrawal may appeal to primary voters, most of the Democratic hopefuls are buying into strategies that would leave large numbers of U.S. soldiers in Iraq well into the next presidency, The New York Times reported.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards would keep soldiers in Iraq to intervene in a genocide and prevent violence from spilling beyond Iraq.
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton would leave soldiers to fight terrorism and stabilize the Kurdish region while Illinois Sen. Barack Obama would leave soldiers to provide security for U.S. personnel and to fight terrorism and train Iraqis, The Times reported.
Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., of Delaware, proposes dividing Iraq into three separate ethnic and religious regions and leaving most U.S. troops in place until the Iraqi government stabilizes.
Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico stands alone in suggesting military equipment be left behind to expedite withdrawal.
"I have a one-point plan to get out of Iraq: Get out! Get out," Richardson said.
