Democrats criticize Pentagon on delayed return of troops

Two Democratic lawmakers are criticizing the Pentagon's decision to keep soldiers in Iraq beyond their one-year deployments.

Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., said Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's decision to extend service will affect members of the 842nd Engineer Company from his home state. The delayed return of these troops "is a direct result of the president's failure to internationalize this effort in Iraq," Johnson said in his statement. "While we cannot cut and run from our commitment in Iraq, the American public must understand the enormous price we pay, both in money and lives."

There are roughly 137,000 troops serving in Iraq. Before the recent upswing in violence among Sunni and Shiite insurgents, the Pentagon had planned to lower that number to about 115,000 after the transition to Iraqi sovereignty June 30.

But Rumsfeld said Thursday the Pentagon will continue to use the level of forces necessary to prevail. "You can't predict the future, you just simply cannot do that, so why bother?" Rumsfeld said during a news conference.

But Johnson criticized the Bush administration for its failure to detail an exit strategy for troops in Iraq and asserted that the June 30 deadline will mean little to soldiers on the ground waiting to return to their families.

"The president must articulate a plan that brings an end to this situation -- one that brings our troops home as soon as possible," he said. As the father of a soldier who served in Iraq, Johnson said he empathizes with the families of South Dakota Guard members. He said local communities face continued strain as the deployment of soldiers, some of whom are first responders back home, will be extended for as many as four months.

Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., asked Rumsfeld and other top officials Thursday to return the Madison and Milwaukee-based Wisconsin National Guard 32nd Military Police Unit from Iraq as scheduled. Baldwin expressed her dismay that unit members waiting to board a plane home after a year of service in Iraq were "literally pulled out of line and told that their combat stay will be extended 120 days." The letters were also signed by Rep. Gerald Kleczka, D-Wis., who has constituents in the unit.

"We face a difficult challenge in Iraq, and it is clear that you must examine all deployments in light of operational requirements," Baldwin wrote. "However, this National Guard unit has served in Operation Iraqi Freedom for an entire year with great courage and commitment. Because of the harmful impact of extended deployment of these citizen soldiers, we ask that you not extend their deployment and return them home as scheduled."