Message From the Senate

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE -- (House of Representatives - June 15, 2006)

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Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to House Resolution 861. Calling this a true debate on Iraq is a joke, and the Republican majority knows it. The Majority Leader has admitted the true motive--to use this issue in the fall elections against the Democrats. Shame on him and shame on the Republican majority for callously restricting what should be a full debate about the most important issue facing our country. Shame on them for trying to set a political trap and not allowing amendments or a full debate. If we were allowed a fair process, the facts would be revealed. And the facts are not pretty.

After the tragedy and horror of September 11, 2001, everyone saw the threat posed by Al Qaeda. I voted for the authorization for President George W. Bush to use force against the Taliban in Afghanistan who were harboring Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. I am a strong supporter of the war on terrorism.

When President Bush came to Congress and asked for authorization to invade Iraq, he made no case that that country was an imminent threat to the United States, or, in fact, related to our international fight against terrorism. So, I opposed the authorization for President Bush to use military force against Iraq in 2002, and that vote was the proudest vote I have taken in nearly 10 years in Congress.

Despite the paucity of evidence to invade a sovereign nation, Congress authorized President Bush to go forward and we invaded Iraq. Instead of remaining focused on combating terrorists, the true imminent threat to our country, we got detoured into Iraq. Our courageous men and women in uniform did a tremendous job in the effort to defeat Saddam Hussein. I have supported them every step of the way and continue to support them as I stand here today.

Having toppled its government, I felt we had an obligation to see Iraq transition to a new democracy. Like most Americans I was patient as Iraq struggled to establish a new civil society and government after years of oppression.

In the three years since the invasion, Americans have provided security and rebuilding assistance. Despite the gross mistakes, mismanagement, and misjudgments of our civilian leadership, Iraq is now a sovereign, free country, a country with a new constitution and a new government. At this point in time, we have done what we can. We've given the Iraqi people an opportunity. It is now their opportunity to grab freedom. It is now their country to lose.

Unfortunately our efforts have come at a tremendous cost. Major General John Batiste, a commander in Iraq and military aide to Mr. Paul Wolfowitz, noted that ``Rumsfeld and his team turned what should have been a deliberate victory in Iraq into a prolonged challenge.'' 2,500 of our best and brightest young people have paid the ultimate sacrifice to our country. About 18,000 have been wounded. All Americans are forever in their debt. In addition to the heartbreaking human toll, there is a financial one as well. We have now spent or appropriated, according to the Congressional Research Service, about $320 billion on the war in Iraq.

Enough is enough. Enough devastation for mothers and fathers who have lost children in Iraq; enough heartache for their loved ones and friends; enough young lives cut short; enough being forced to shortchange domestic priorities like health care and homeland security because billions are being spent on Iraq. We have given the Iraqis a chance. That is all they can ask of us and that is all we can ask of ourselves. As such, it is time to shift troops to the periphery of the conflict and redirect some resources currently being used in Iraq back to America.

Despite what the Republican majority suggests through this Resolution, saying it is now time to begin redeploying troops and that President Bush needs to develop a plan to do so is not arbitrary. It is, in fact, a reasonable calculation that the cost of Iraq is no longer worth any benefit we may achieve by continuing our armed presence there. The majority of the American people have made it clear they feel it is simply not worth more blood to achieve perfection in Iraq. They are right. It is time we in Congress listened.

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