The World is Less Safe

THE WORLD IS LESS SAFE -- (House of Representatives - September 28, 2006)

(Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, America is less safe today than before 9/11 attacks. That is according to the National Intelligence Estimate that was leaked out over the weekend. According to the report, the war in Iraq is actually fueling terror worldwide, undermining our efforts to fight terrorism, and making Americans less safe at home and abroad.

This is the second report that questioned our efforts in Iraq, by the GAO. The GAO report asked three specific questions that, unfortunately, this do-nothing Congress should be asking if we had not abdicated our role.

First, what are the key political, economic, and security conditions that must be achieved for U.S. forces to begin to withdraw? Americans want to know.

Two, why have security conditions continued to deteriorate in Iraq even though Iraq has reached political milestones and increased the number of trained and equipped security forces? The American people want to know.

And, three, if existing U.S. political, economic, and security measures are not reducing the violence in Iraq, what measures, if any, does the administration propose to end the violence? The American people want to know.

It is time that we make Americans safer and fully implement the 9/11 recommendations. It is time for a new direction.

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