Why One Democrat Doesn't Favor An Immediate Withdrawal

Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania, a former 3-star adminiral in the Navy who served for 31 years, voted with his leaders Thursday on a bill to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by April 2008 despite significant misgivings about the legislation itself.

Sestak, who was the director for defense policy on the National Security Council under Bill Clinton, is the highest ranking Navy officer to serve in the House.

The freshman issued a lengthy statement following the vote explaining his reservations about the legislation on the floor and laying out a recommended course for the future. It's long, but it's far more thoughtful than almost anything said on the House floor Thursday. He explains the practical concerns for ending such an enormous military effort, one his leaders would be wise to consider if Congress continues to make the war a partisan debate.

Click below to read it.