Democrats split on total pullout

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The Democratic presidential candidates fought once again last night over how to end the Iraq war, with the front-runners refusing to pledge absolutely to withdraw all U.S. troops by the end of their first term and coming under fire from the others for that refusal.

Moderator Tim Russert began the seventh debate of 2007 by asking all eight candidates whether they would pledge unconditionally to pull out U.S. combat forces, and Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton demurred.

"It is my goal to have all combat troops out by the end of my first term, but it's difficult to answer that question because we do not know what we will be inheriting" at the end of President Bush's second term, Mrs. Clinton said.

Mr. Obama said that although "I believe we should have all troops out in 2013," it would be "irresponsible" to project that far into the future what the circumstances in Iraq might be.

But that position came under immediate fire from former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, who said that although he "cannot make that commitment," he "would immediately begin to draw down 40,000 to 50,000 troops and begin to withdraw all troops out of Iraq."

The only exception would be to retain noncombat forces for humanitarian purposes, he said, estimating that this would require "about a brigade" of 3,500 to 5,000 troops.

"Good people have differences about this issue. Senator Clinton said we would continue to have combat missions in Iraq. I would not have any combat mission in Iraq," he said.

Mrs. Clinton quickly denied Mr. Edwards' assertion, saying that she intended only to retain counterterrorism forces there "aimed at al Qaeda in Iraq, but the vast majority of our troops will be out."

The candidates trailing in the polls immediately went after that caution, playing to the Democrats' antiwar base.

"I will get that done," said Sen. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said that the front-runners are merely "changing this mission," rather than trying to "end the war." He and Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio both estimated that a withdrawal could be achieved in a matter of months.