MSNBC reports, "One question troubling some Democrats, according to Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D-Tenn.): “If you move troops out too quickly do you squander the gains that we’ve made? Do you suggest that the lives lost and the money spent — more importantly, the lives lost — were in vain?”"Ford said there was no need for Democrats to rush to a consensus Iraq position. “As much as I’d love to have coherent strategy, today at 10 a.m., I’d much rather have a plan that can win, if it takes a month or two months to come up with one,” he said."
"Ford is another Southern Democrat with a lot at stake in his party’s Iraq debate. He is giving up his House seat next year to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Majority Leader Bill Frist.
Harold Ford said, “We’ve got to figure how we can get out in a way that we maintain some dignity and honesty.”
So what changes will Americans see if Ford is elected to the Senate and there’s a Democratic House? “The notion of staying the course — we’ll actually define what that means. I think there will be a more concerted effort to involve the international community (in Iraq). I think there’ll be a more concerted effort to provide our military commanders with the resources they need to train the Iraqi military and forces. I think there’ll be a greater movement to involve the United Nations and the Arab League and other nations who have a stake in the outcome of our efforts.”
Asked for his definition of “victory” in Iraq, Ford said, “The Iraqis being able to govern themselves with a military and a police force that can defend the government’s stances and policies.”
The Associated Press writes, "Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn., rejected the notion that the Democratic Party appears weak without presenting its own plan for Iraq. "It's a sign of strength that we're having this conversation," Ford said."
Reuters adds, "I don't know if that's what we're seeking," Rep. Harold Ford of Tennessee said of a unified Democratic position on Iraq. "This is not our responsibility fully to come up with all the answers on this."
Update: More from Congressman Ford on the Iraq war, "Congressman Harold Ford says Democrats are not afraid of being seen as having diverse views, and minimizes the significance of differences over strategy.
"[There is] not as much disagreement as you think," he explained. "I think most of the people in that room want to do everything possible to bring the troops home as soon as we can, and the question we have now is how do you do that?"
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