Dateline 2004: Coleman Said “Whatever the Future Brings, We Must Stand with This President.” In September 2004, Coleman praised President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq and said “whatever the future brings, we must stand with this president.” [Star Tribune, 9/22/04]
Bringing Our Troops Home from Iraq
RE: Coleman Consistently Supported Bush Policy And Opposed Efforts To Bring Troops Home From Iraq
Dateline 2005: Coleman Said Bush Policies Brought Middle East Goodwill Towards America. After visiting the Middle East in 2005, Coleman said that the region was benefiting greatly from Bush policies. Coleman said America was gaining support due to its humanitarian efforts, “But there's also been a massive amount of goodwill directed toward the U.S. because of what our military personnel and President Bush have accomplished elsewhere in the region.” [US Fed News, 1/15/05]
Dateline 2007: Coleman Said He Doesn’t Talk About Getting Out of Iraq. In July 2007, Coleman said, “We are going to be in Iraq a long time. I am not supporting dates, specific dates, timetables for withdrawal. When my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about redeployment, they are talking about getting out of Iraq. I’m not. And simply because that’s the reality.” [Pioneer Press, 7/12/07]
Coleman Backed Veto Of A War Funding Bill With A Timetable For Withdrawal Attached; Called Timetables “Arbitrary Deadlines For Surrender.” In May, 2007, Coleman released a statement in support of President Bush’s veto of a war funding bill with a timetable for withdrawal attached. “With today’s veto of the supplemental funding bill,” Coleman said, “we will have another opportunity to send a bill to the President’s desk that will provide our troops with the funding they desperately need. While I agree we need to continue pressuring the Iraqi government to take over more responsibility of Iraq’s security, I am opposed to arbitrary deadlines for surrender. I sincerely hope that my colleagues will stop playing politics with our troops’ resources and work together to pass a bill that does not condition critical funding for our forces on a timeline for withdrawal.” [Coleman Press Release, 5/2/07]
Dateline 2007: Coleman Again Voted Against Plan to Withdraw US Troops by December 2008. In November 2007, Coleman voted against a $50 billion war funding package that would require troop withdrawals from Iraq beginning within 30 days, with a goal of withdrawal by December 15, 2008. Democrats fell seven votes short on the motion, which required 60 votes to pass. [Vote 411, 11/16/07; New York Times, 11/15/07]
Dateline 2007: Coleman Voted 12 Times in 2007 Against Changing Course in Iraq. Senator Norm Coleman voted twelve times in 2007 against changing course in Iraq.
