John Edwards on 2013

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The other candidates want you to believe there are no differences on the issue of Iraq ... "All of us do want to end this war."
-- John Edwards, CNN/YouTube Debate, 7/23/07

There are differences. Bill Richardson is the only major candidate who has pledged to get all of our troops out of Iraq by the end of his first year in office -- in 2009.

EDWARDS RECORD

Refuses to Pledge to Get Our Troops Out by 2013, the End Of His First Term

RUSSERT: "Senator Edwards, will you commit that at the end of your first term, in 2013, all U.S. troops will be out of Iraq?"

EDWARDS: "I cannot make that commitment."
-- From 9/26 DNC Debate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Refuses to Pledge to Get Our Troops Out by 2010, the End of First Year In Office

WOODRUFF: on January the 20th, 2010, one year after you take office, should you be elected, what would be the size of the U.S. military presence in Iraq?

EDWARDS: It’s also -- it's also impossible to say because we don't know what the circumstances will be at the time …"
-- From 9/20 AARP Forum in Davenport, Iowa.

Tries to differentiate plan, but would still continue war in Iraq

When trying to contrast with Senator Clinton’s plan to continue ‘combat missions’ in Iraq, Edwards describes his plan to engage in ‘combat expeditions’. This attempt to change language is not missed for what it is: a plan to continue the war in Iraq by changing the mission, not ending it.
-- "Edwards Advocates Combat 'Expeditions; Would Pull Forces, Start Attacks from Bases Outside Iraq." The Boston Globe. By Jenn Abelson. 8 November 2007.

Plan Potentially Leaves Up to 90,000 Troops in Iraq Indefinitely

"For over a year, I have argued for an immediate withdrawal of 40,000 to 50,000 U.S. combat troops from Iraq, followed by an orderly and complete withdrawal of all combat troops."
-- From Foreign Affairs, "Reengaging with the World." Sept/Oct 2007.
-- Congressional Budget Office Director Peter R. Orszag, says there are "about 4,000 combat troops and 5,500 supporting troops, in a combat brigade". Out of the 168,000 troops in Iraq, then roughly 70,500 combat troops would be withdrawn, including the 40,000 - 50,000. This would leave approximately 97,500 support troops in Iraq indefinitely.