Chris Dodd: Change in course in Iraq needed

Chris Dodd sees the writing on the wall.

U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd Thursday altered his course on Iraq, calling for a goal of repositioning U.S. troops from current Iraqi positions beginning immediately and finishing within 12 to 18 months.

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"We must begin immediately to reposition our troops from Baghdad, Fallujah and other large urban centers," he said, to Kurdistan and other less populated areas of Iraq.

That way, Dodd said, "training of Iraqi forces could continue."

He would also move troops to border areas, "where they can protect the territorial integrity of Iraq until Iraqi forces can do so themselves."

Other forces would head for military bases in Kuwait and Qatar, "where they could be available to protect our national security interests-and to Afghanistan, where we must redouble our efforts to capture Osama bin Laden, dismantle al-Qaida and neutralize the Taliban.

"These movements must begin immediately," Dodd said, "with the goal of completing them within the next 12 to 18 months."

Dodd is joining an evergrowing list of senators, Congressmen, and retired military leaders who want to see American forces out of this bloddy civil war in Iraq while, neo-conservatives like Joe Lieberman want to stay the course.

The message is clear, it's time for a change.