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The following statement has been released jointly by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean:

"The thoughts and prayers of all Americans are with our friends the British people today. We stand with them – and with all the free people of the world – in condemning these attacks on ordinary Londoners. Today's attacks come just two weeks after nearly identical attacks in the British capital. They show the fragility of peace, and the ease with which those determined to disturb it can succeed."

"At the same time, we cannot help but believe that the current deployment of American and British troops serves as a grave provocation to Muslim insurgents around the world. These attacks show that just as President Bush had no plan to win the peace in Iraq, and is currently unable to quell the uprising there which seeks to throw off the foreign occupation, the British Government has no plan and no vision that includes an effective response to this insurgency."

"Accordingly we call on the Prime Minister to promptly announce a plan which includes a firm timetable for the withdrawal of British forces from London. We are convinced that such an announcement cannot but lead to peace in that great city, and the ultimate withdrawal of the British will go far to signal to the worldwide Muslim community that neither England nor the United States is their enemy. We challenge President Bush to join in our call on all patriotic British subjects to demand this course of Mr. Blair."

"It is clear to us – as it is clear to the world community, and as it should be clear to the Bush administration – that only by acting in such new and bold ways can the people of our countries realize peace in our time."