Democratic 2008 contenders bicker over Iraq pullout

Source: Reuters

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic presidential hopefuls scrambled for advantage in the widening debate over Iraq on Wednesday, with Barack Obama calling for combat troops to come home by the end of 2008 and Hillary Clinton asking the White House to speed any withdrawal.

The comments by Obama and Clinton prompted a wave of criticism and counter-proposals by campaign rivals on the eve of a speech to the country on Iraq by President George W. Bush. The Democratic candidates were competing for the affection of the party's large and influential anti-war wing.

In Iowa, which will hold the first presidential nominating contest for the November 2008 election in about four months, Obama emphasized his early opposition to the war and proposed bringing home one or two combat brigades a month until all combat forces were out by the end of next year.

"I am here to say that we have to begin to end this war now," the first-term Illinois senator said, although he did not specify how many troops would be left in Iraq. "There is no military solution in Iraq and there never was."

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