Under pressure to offer a clear alternative to President George W. Bush (news - web sites), Kerry promised last week to "significantly" draw down the 138,000-strong US force in Iraq within eight months of taking office. <-- one year from now
The Massachusetts senator said that using diplomacy to raise more international help and accelerating the training of Iraqi security forces, "it is appropriate to have a goal of reducing our troops over that period time."
The Republicans have also vowed to withdraw US troops as soon as possible but refuse to set a timetable. Bush said while campaigning on Friday that an immediate pullout would lead to "mayhem and bloodshed" in Iraq.