Pataki on Iraq

New York Governor George Pataki was in Portsmouth yesterday. Speaking before the editorial board of the The Portsmouth Herald, Pataki voiced opposition to an Iraqi timetable of withdrawl. He said "We can't simply decide tomorrow we're going to go home and allow a safe haven for people who've attacked us before and who want to attack us again." Pataki also stressed that the United States should make it clear to the Iraqis that they need to "handle much more of their own security and not allow them to indefinitely rely on the sacrifice of brave American soldiers." Unlike McCain, Pataki does not favor more American troops in Iraq. Instead, the United States and the Iraqi government should appeal to the international community for help.