Jeff Merkley on War & Peace Democratic Senate Challenger; member of State House

Opposed Iraq war from the very beginning, against Party

Signed onto "A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq"

To secure the peace, Americans can't be seen as an occupying force, so removing them from patrols and checkpoints should be job one. Iraqis must feel they have a stake in their own future to move forward. Jeff's 5-point path includes:
1. Remove all combat troops starting right away and completing the redeployment in 6 to 12 months;
2. Eliminate permanent US military bases in Iraq;
3. Engage Iraq's neighbors in a diplomatic effort to secure the peace;
4. Remove all American contractors from the country and replace them with Iraqi contractors;
5. Direct our attention toward stronger engagement with the Iraqi Parliament and Courts.

Opposed the war from the start

Redeploy American combat troops out of Iraq