Statement on Discharge Petition on H.J. Res. 55, the Withdrawal of U.S. Forces From Iraq Resolution of 2005
STATEMENT ON DISCHARGE PETITION ON H.J. RES. 55, THE WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. FORCES FROM IRAQ RESOLUTION OF 2005 -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 05, 2006)
* Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the discharge petition for H.J. Res. 55 not because I support the substance of the underlying resolution, but because I believe a full and open debate of our Iraq policy on the floor of this House is long overdue.
* I believe the invasion of Iraq was a mistake. It has diverted resources from the fight against Osama bin Laden and those who attacked our country on September 11, 2001. It has fueled al Qaeda with fresh recruits and inflamed anti-American sentiment around the world. It has resulted in the loss of the lives of thousands of American soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis. It has cost the American taxpayer hundreds of billions of dollars. It has made us less, not more, secure.
* From the outset I have been an outspoken opponent of the Bush administration's decision to go to war in Iraq. I argued strongly that the United States should support the request of the United Nations' weapons inspectors for additional time to complete their mission. The Bush administration spurned that request. We know the result--the primary justification given for going to war in Iraq, namely the alleged existence of stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction and the alleged collaboration between the government of Iraq and al Qaeda, proved to be false.
* Many of us warned repeatedly that invading Iraq would open Pandora's box and unleash forces and historic rivalries that we would not be able to control. The rising sectarian conflict, the insurgency and the brutal executions carried out by militias were foreseeable. The total failure of the administration to plan for the aftermath of the invasion made what was certain to be a bad situation even worse.
* We went to war in Iraq in an irresponsible manner; we should leave Iraq in a responsible way. Having invaded Iraq, we have both a moral and national security obligation to do everything possible to prevent the situation and sectarian conflict from spiraling even farther out of control. We must devise a plan to leave Iraq in a way that maximizes the chances for stability and minimizes the possibility for the eruption of a full scale civil war with even more bloodletting than there is today. We must leave Iraq in a way that does not allow al Qaeda--which did not have a base in Iraq before the war--to develop a stronghold there. We must not compound the blunders of the Bush administration by creating the conditions for even more bloodshed in Iraq and allowing it to become a launching pad for terrorist activities. That is why I have not supported proposals that set a date certain for the total withdrawal of all American forces from Iraq. I believe such well-intentioned legislation, like H.J. Res. 55, would have the unintended consequence of accelerating a budding civil war and strengthening the hands of those who would like to see Iraq plunged into even greater chaos and bloodshed.
* While I do not support H.J. Res. 55 in its current form, I believe the Congress must have a serious and full debate on our strategy for bringing our troops home. Since the President declared ``Mission Accomplished'' in April 2003, we have seen more death and destruction in Iraq. The administration's efforts to achieve a political solution have been grossly inadequate. This House was wrong to give the President a blank check to go to war in Iraq. It now must fulfill its obligation to bring our troops home in a responsible manner. Let us honor our troops by having a serious debate. That is why I am signing the discharge petition for H.J. Res. 55.
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