Gov. Warner rejects Iraq withdrawal date

By Daniel Trotta

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The United States needs to set
milestones for progress, not a firm withdrawal date, before it
can leave Iraq, Virginia governor and prospective Democratic
presidential candidate Mark Warner said on Monday.

“This Democrat doesn’t think we need to re-fight how we got
into (the Iraq war). I think we need to focus more on how to
finish it,” Warner said.

“To set an arbitrary deadline or specific date is not
appropriate,” he said. “… It is incumbent on the president to
set milestones for what he believes will be the conclusion.”

Warner outlined an Iraq policy during his appearance before
New York’s Asia Society, and said he might run for president
after his term as governor expires in January. “I clearly want
to be part of the national debate,” he said.

The 50-year-old was elected governor in 2001 in a state
that has voted Republican in every presidential election since
1968. That has fueled speculation he might be able to help
Democrats take back Republican-leaning states in the 2008
election.

Warner helped Democrats keep the statehouse earlier this
month when Tim Kaine defeated Republican Jerry Kilgore as his
successor. U.S. President George W. Bush campaigned on
Kilgore’s behalf.

Warner is barred from running for reelection because of
Virginia’s term limits law.

The governor’s speech also addressed overall Asia policy.
The Asia Society is a foundation promoting Asian trade and
culture, but a question from the audience turned to Iraq.

Warner said the debate should focus on how to finish the
job; that Sunni Muslims and Iraqis in general should be
involved in reconstruction; and that the United States must
convince more allies to help.

Speaking to reporters later, he said it was not necessary
to increase troop levels in Iraq. “It appears the country’s
headed in the opposite direction,” Warner said.