"John Edwards calls for withdrawal of some troops from Iraq"

Boston Globe:

Former vice presidential candidate John Edwards, who is considering another run for the Democratic nomination for president, said Saturday the United States should start pulling troops out of Iraq immediately.
The former U.S. Sen. from North Carolina told reporters America should "make it clear (to Iraqis) we are leaving, and the best way is to start leaving. We should take 40,000 combat troops out now."
Edwards, who has said he regretted his vote as a U.S. senator authorizing President Bush to declare war in Iraq, said he would ask the country's military leaders for a strategy "to have the (rest of the) troops out in roughly 12 to 18 months."
"There is no chance other countries in the world will help Iraq as long as we are an occupying force," he said.
The question of Iraq gave Edwards a chance to talk more about foreign policy in the state that holds the nation's first presidential primary. But most of his talk at a campaign gathering for a state senator dealt with his familiar theme of fighting a national and global war on poverty, disease and hunger.
On the Israeli-Hezbollah fighting in the Middle East, Edwards noted he was on the Israel-Lebanon border only three weeks ago, and said Israel "has absolutely the right to defend itself," though he said there "needs to be an international security force in southern Lebanon."
Asked about the possibility the United States might change its policy on Cuba when Fidel Castro dies, Edwards said he has supported the United States embargo of a Castro-led Cuba, but if Castro, who recently underwent intestinal surgery, should die, this country should "evaluate his successor and then decide" whether to lift the embargo.
Edwards also noted he will be visiting China soon and recently has been to Russia as he seeks to enhance his foreign policy experience.
State Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, who supported Edwards for the nomination in 2004, said Edwards is trying to improve his foreign policy credentials.
"He's got to work on that," he said. "I want him to talk about foreign affairs. I would tell him to talk more about it."
Edwards spoke to about 80 people at the home of state Sen. David Gottesman, who is seeking a second term. It was one of several New Hampshire stops during the day for Edwards, who has been back to the state several times this year as he considers another run for the presidency.
He was Sen. John Kerry's running mate in 2004 after making his own bid for the Democratic nomination. The former trial lawyer now leads the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina Law School, and has traveled the country speaking out against poverty.
He said few people are talking about poverty, especially in Washington. He said the Democratic Party needs a leader who will inspire people to make the fight on poverty an issue.