Posted on Thursday, February 17, 2005
WASHINGTON — Arkansas’ Sen. Mark Pryor said Wednesday he will support additional funding for Iraq but wants President Bush to make clear where the war is headed.
The first-term Democrat, in a conference call with reporters, said he would vote for an additional $82 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan, putting the cost of the wars at more than $300 billion.
But, he said, "I think it is time for the president to lay out his plan for transitioning us out of Iraq."
Pryor said he is not asking for specific deadlines that could prove useful to the insurgents. Instead, he wants more information about plans for matters such as "suppressing the insurgency" and training more Iraqi troops.
On other matters, Pryor clarified his position on the possibility of interstate hauling of chemical and hazardous wastes to the Pine Bluff Arsenal. "I’ll need a lot of convincing before anyone can [persuade] me that it’s the right thing to do. But I’m willing to listen to the Pentagon on this," he said. . .