On September 5, 9News at 5 p.m. co-anchor Adele Arakawa falsely reported that “Democrats want troops to be pulled out of Iraq immediately.” In fact, leading Democrats consistently have called for a phased, rather than immediate, redeployment of U.S. military forces in Iraq and had renewed their call to President Bush for just such a withdrawal one day earlier.

As the New York Times reported September 6, “Democrats sent a letter to the president on [September 4] proposing a 'new direction' for Iraq that called, among other things, for a 'phased redeployment' of military forces out of the country.” The letter, signed by 12 House and Senate Democratic leaders, including Senate leader Harry Reid (D-NV), House leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Carl Levin (D-MI), and Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee Ike Skelton (D-MO), recommended “beginning the phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq before the end of this year.” Moreover, it urged “transitioning the U.S. mission in Iraq to counter-terrorism, training, logistics and force protection.”

The gradual withdrawal the Democrats requested in their September 4 letter echoed their previous requests that U.S. combat troops in Iraq be redeployed on a gradual basis. In a July 31 letter to President Bush, House Democrats stated:

We believe that a phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq should begin before the end of 2006. U.S. forces in Iraq should transition to a more limited mission focused on counterterrorism, training and logistical support of Iraqi security forces, and force protection of U.S. personnel.

From the September 5 broadcast of KUSA's 9News at 5 p.m.

ARAKAWA: President Bush says pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq would fulfill Osama bin Laden's wishes and make him a global threat in the mold of Adolf Hitler. The president spoke to a military officers group today in Washington, saying Al Qaeda is using the Internet to recruit and train. The White House today released a 23-page booklet called “National Strategy for Combating Terrorism,” which the president describes as his strategy since he's been pursuing since 9/11.

Democrats released their own report, which shows Al Qaeda has doubled its number of members since 2001. Democrats want troops to be pulled out of Iraq immediately.

RET. GEN. WESLEY CLARK: Invading Iraq was a mistake -- a strategic blunder.

BUSH: For Al Qaeda, Iraq is not a distraction. From their war on America, it is the central battlefield ...

ARAKAWA: The president plans another speech tomorrow. It will include his plan to change the law so detainees held at Guantanamo Bay can be tried for crimes before military commissions.