Statement on Iraq Study Group Report

Statement on Iraq Study Group Report

"The Iraq Study Group's report released today represents a stinging repudiation of the Administration's policy in Iraq, and on a broader scale, its failed policy in the Middle East. Although I firmly believe that the United States should redeploy its troops from Iraq without delay, I am heartened by the panel's recommended goal of withdrawing nearly all combat units by early 2008. I am also pleased to see the recommendation for specific benchmarks the Iraqi government must meet or suffer reduction in economic and military support from the United States.

This administration's failure to prioritize resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has undermined our country's credibility in the Arab and Islamic world. The Iraq Study Group correctly recognized this issue's significance in addressing our challenges in Iraq. As recommended by the panel, we must begin diplomatic discussions with nations throughout the region (including Iran and Syria) if we are to have any hope of cleaning up the mess created by this unnecessary war.
President Bush has, so far, expressed reluctance to accept even the most modest of the panel's recommendations to end this unjust occupation. I urge the President to face reality and take the panel's recommendations to heart."

http://tammybaldwin.house.gov/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1359