Brown Statement In Response To Blockbuster Military Editorials Calling For Rumsfeld’s Resignation

AMHERST - In response to a blockbuster joint editorial set to run Monday in the Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times calling for the resignation of Secretary Rumsfeld, U.S. Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today released the following statement on incumbent Republican Senator Mike DeWine's failure to listen to our military leaders and call for Rumsfeld's resignation:

"On Monday, four major military publications will say what Mike DeWine still refuses to - 'Donald Rumsfeld must go,'" Brown said. "DeWine said he'd listen to our military leaders when it comes to Iraq, but has failed to hear some of our most respected Generals who've said that changing course in Iraq begins with firing the man running the war. DeWine is still taking his orders from the political bosses fighting to keep their jobs in Washington rather than the military leaders who have fought on the battlefield, which is why Ohio voters will soon add him to the long list of Bush Republicans who must go."

To read the full editorial, please click:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexn/detail?blogid=16&entry_id=10582

Below is an excerpt:

"Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large. His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. And although the blame for our failures in Iraq rests with the secretary, it will be the troops who bear its brunt.

"This is not about the midterm elections. Regardless of which party wins Nov. 7, the time has come, Mr. President, to face the hard bruising truth:

"Donald Rumsfeld must go."

11/04/2006 / Permalink / Iraq, (all tags)

Does Mike DeWine Agree with President Bush’s Latest Assessment of the War in Iraq?

CLEVELAND - U.S. Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today released the following statement calling on Senator DeWine (R-OH) to explain whether he agrees with the President's latest assessment of the war in Iraq:

"After one of the deadliest months for American troops in Iraq, a month where some of the most respected Republicans, from Colin Powell to James Baker, are saying we need a change in course, President Bush today said that we are winning the war in Iraq. Senator DeWine has long supported President Bush and his stay-the-course strategy in Iraq. If Mike DeWine agrees with the President that we're winning the war in Iraq, then he has an obligation to explain to the people of Ohio how long he thinks our troops need to be there, and what needs to happen for them to come home. There is a clear need for the United States to change course in Iraq, and I have called time and again for President Bush to work with military leaders to develop a winning exit strategy."

At his press conference today, the President said, "We're winning and we will win, unless we leave before the job is done."

Sherrod Brown has consistently opposed the war in Iraq.

10/25/2006 / Permalink / Iraq, (all tags)

DeWine says stay; Brown says go

Candidates disagree on strategy for getting troops out of Iraq

DeWine’s opponent, Democratic Congressman Sherrod Brown, couldn’t view the situation more differently. He wants to see the military produce an exit strategy in the next 18 to 24 months, arguing that staying the course will dig the U.S. into a deeper hole.

Brown, who talked with the editorial board Tuesday, also wants to see competent Iraqi security forces in place, but he doesn’t think that can happen until the U.S. lets them know that American soldiers won’t stick around indefinitely.

"If the Iraqis think we’re not going to leave, there’s no incentive for them to do what they’re not doing now with security forces and political settlement," he said.

For those who predict chaos if we set a time to leave, Brown said, chaos already is happening.

Read the full article. 

10/12/2006 / Permalink / Iraq, (all tags)

Four Years Later, DeWine Still Stays The Failed Course

AMHERST, OH -- Today marks the fourth anniversary of Senator DeWine's vote to go to war with Iraq over non-existent weapons of mass destruction.  Four years later, Senator DeWine continues to support President Bush's failed stay-the-course strategy.  He failed to call for a winning exit strategy and said that troops should only be redeployed from Iraq if the country breaks out into civil war.  Today, Republican National Committee Chairman and former Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman is campaigning with DeWine in Columbus, rewarding him for rubberstamping the President's war strategy and voting with him more than 90 percent of the time in Congress.
 
"Senator DeWine is a roadblock to progress in Iraq," said U.S. Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH).  "For four years, he stood by the President's failed stay-the-course strategy and voted against investigating intelligence failures.  It's time for a new direction in Ohio and a changed course in Iraq."

10/11/2006 / Permalink / Iraq, (all tags)

DeWine, Brown show divide on war

Dayton Daily News

Sen. Mike DeWine and Rep. Sherrod Brown sparred Sunday on how best to end the war in Iraq, with DeWine asserting that U.S. troops are in Iraq primarily for U.S. interests, and Brown saying U.S. troops in Iraq are now "for all intents and purposes refereeing a civil war."

During the first of four scheduled debates on NBC's Meet the Press, Iraq and issues of national security dominated the more than 30-minute session. Both men advocate turning over the security situation to Iraqis quickly.

Brown, D-Avon, said the military should be instructed to come up with a strategy to get troops out in 18 months to two years.

DeWine, R-Ohio, said setting a date to exit would only lead to chaos and embolden the insurgents. "Once they are to the point where they can take this over, we're out of there," he said. "We want to be gone."

Brown said without the timeline, DeWine and the Republicans' philosophy is "stay the status quo, stay the course."

"They're not advocating any real change," he said. "They've been saying for three years that things were doing well."

Host and moderator Tim Russert grilled DeWine on his vote supporting the war, asking him if he would have done the same if he had known there were no weapons of mass destruction. "No," DeWine said.

"Do you regret your vote?" Russert asked.

"No," DeWine said.

Read full article. 

10/03/2006 / Permalink / Iraq, Meet the Press, (all tags)

Democrats say war should be refocused from Iraq to al-Qaida

From AP via News 8: 

Democrats are responding to President Bush's latest remarks on the war on terror, saying it'll take a new policy in Iraq to make America safe.

Congressman Sherrod Brown of Ohio said the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq has made the country “a training ground for terrorists and a recruiting tool for the leaders of al-Qaida.'' He said the war on terror should be redirected to end what he calls the “open-ended commitment in Iraq'' and refocus military efforts on destroying al-Qaida.

Brown, who is running for a seat in the Senate, delivered the Democrats' weekly radio address.

Click here to read the full article. 

09/10/2006 / Permalink / Homeland Security, Iraq, (all tags)

Sherrod Brown Delivers Democratic Radio Address on Fifth Anniversary of 9/11

AMHERST, OH – Today Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH), candidate for the United States Senate Seat in Ohio, delivered the Democratic response to the President’s National Radio Address marking the fifth anniversary of September 11.

The text and audio file is available here: http://sherrodbrown.com/pages/democratic_radio_response. The address aired immediately following the president’s address on major radio networks, including ABC, AP, AURN, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, NPR, American Forces Radio, Voice of America, BBC, CBC, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

09/09/2006 / Permalink / Homeland Security, Iraq, (all tags)

Sherrod Delivers Democratic Response to President Bush’s 9/11 Anniversary Address

On Saturday, September 9, 2006, Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH), candidate for the United States Senate Seat in Ohio, delivered the Democratic response to the President’s National Radio Address marking the fifth anniversary of September 11. 

The address aired immediately following the president’s address on major radio networks, including ABC, AP, AURN, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, NPR, American Forces Radio, Voice of America, BBC, CBC, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Listen to audio below:

Click here to learn more.

09/09/2006 / Permalink / Audio, Homeland Security, Iraq, (all tags)