DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 5 All but two Republican presidential hopefuls firmly opposed a timetable for a troop withdrawal from Iraq during a 90-minute debate in Iowa, ABC News reported.
Only Rep. Ron Paul of Texas urged immediate withdrawal, a unique position among the GOP contenders.
"We went in illegally and we ought to just come home," said Paul, who co-authored a House resolution for immediate redeployment of U.S. military forces from Iraq.
Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado said he believes it is time for Iraqis to take control of Iraq but he stopped short of detailing a timetable or calling for withdrawal.
Arizona Sen. John McCain continued his support for President George W. Bush's troop surge strategy. "Give us some time to succeed," McCain said.
Paul, Tancredo, and McCain were joined by Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, Arkansas Sen. Mike Huckabee, California Rep. Duncan Hunter, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson in the debate aired live Sunday on "This Week With George Stephanopoulos."
Copyright 2007 by UPI
