House Democrat Seeks Hearing On Bush Overseas Troop Plan

[Nambe]

Dow Jones Newswires

U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Missouri. and ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday he wants a hearing on the Bush administration's new plan to bring back up to 70,000 U.S. troops from overseas.

President George W. Bush and Democratic candidate John Kerry have squared off over the issue this week. Bush said the troop shifts would help the U.S. against modern threats, while Kerry said the plan might damage relations with U.S. allies.

Skelton asked for a hearing at the "earliest opportunity" once Congress is back in session in September. He said the plan poses significant concerns regarding U.S. military spending and strategy.

"For example, the likely shift of forces now stationed abroad back to the United States raises questions about the manner in which the next round of base closures should be conducted," Skelton said in a letter to committee chairman U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R- Calif. ..

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