Sep. 14: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden spoke on the steps of the Iowa Statehouse in Des Moines yesterday, giving reaction to and answering questions about what the president would say to the nation in a speech Thursday night.
“America will not be safer by continuing his policy,” Sen. Biden stated. “I know how to make America safer — immediately begin to draw down American combat troops… Second, immediately give the troops all the protection they need while we are drawing them down and for those who remain until we can get them out… Three, recognize a fundamental flaw in Bush’s policy: there will not be a central government in Iraq, out of Baghdad. You must change the policy, to put in place a federal, decentralized Iraq… give them control over their daily lives.”
More at:
http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=FFADA740-960B-EE1A-6022629FD966185FPlease note that he uses the word "immediately" when talking about withdrawing from Iraq, but he is clear that it has to be systematic and orderly so as to protect the troops in the process.