Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 2237, Providing For Redeployment Of United States Armed Forces And Defense Contractors From Iraq; Providing For Co
Floor Speech
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2237, PROVIDING FOR REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND DEFENSE CONTRACTORS FROM IRAQ; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2206, U.S. TROOP READNESS, VETERANS' CARE, KATRINA RECOVERY, AND IRAQ ACCOUNTABILITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007; AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2207, AGRICULTURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND WESTERN STATES EMERGENCY UNFINISHED BUSINESS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 15, 2007)
* Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this measure before us today because it provides a clearly needed change in course in Iraq. The President has placed roughly 160,000 of our troops in a highly vulnerable position--refereeing a civil war--while the various factions in Iraq have not made adequate progress toward reconciliation. The needed political reconciliation among these groups will not happen until we make it clear to the Iraqis that our occupation is coming to an end.
* But our open-ended occupation of Iraq is not only not working; it's working against us. It undermines our fight against al-Qaeda and provides extremists a rallying point. We have every indication that al-Qaeda is resurgent in Pakistan, that bin Laden finds himself stronger than ever, and that al-Qaeda-linked groups are growing in number and audacity. We need to responsibly redeploy our troops from Iraq so we can better fight this growing threat.
* I initially had concerns with some of the language in this measure regarding funds for troops deployed to Iraq since January of this year. But after examining the bill more closely, I do not believe any provision in this bill would alter funding in a way that would put troops currently in the field at risk. The bottom line is that we must send a clear message to the President that we must change direction in Iraq and redeploy our troops.
Source