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In what Congressman Steve Rothman describes as one of the most important decisions of his career, he announced on February 23, 2006 that he no longer trusts the Bush Administration to effectively lead our nation in the War in Iraq and believes we should withdraw our troops. “If I knew at the time of my vote what I know now, I would never have supported the President's invasion of Iraq. I believe that we must learn from our mistakes and make decisions based on new information. The President’s stubborn refusal to do either is not only wrong, but dangerous,” said Rothman.
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Statement on the Resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
November 9, 2006 "This decision is long overdue, given the Bush Administration's appalling pre-war planning, their disastrous prosecution of the war in Iraq, and their lack of a plan to redeploy our troops out of Iraq. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation represents an important opportunity for our country to begin a new strategy in Iraq and in the War on Terror," said Rothman. Read the full statement.Iraq Not Part of the Global War on Terror
June 16, 2006 "I voted against the Republican Leadership's Iraq resolution, which inaccurately describes the war in Iraq as part of the Global War on Terror. While I strongly and proudly support our courageous and dedicated troops, coalition partners, and the Iraqi Security Forces who put their lives on the line each and every day to fight for a democratic, stable and secure Iraq, I cannot support a resolution that does not paint an accurate picture of what the true situation on the ground is in Iraq," said Rothman. Read more.Related News: Transcript of Remarks during Debate Over H.Res. 861 (June 15)
Statement on the Sentencing of Saddam Hussein
November 5, 2006 “The verdict is just and the sentence appropriate for the mass murderer Saddam Hussein. However, the verdict will not end the violence in Iraq or return our troops to safety. President Bush must withdraw our troops from Iraq without delay.”Opportunities Lost Due to the Cost of the Iraq War
September 2006 Iraq is a tragedy in terms of lives lost, taxpayers' dollars expended, American worldwide influence dissipated, and opportunities missed. This fact sheet, prepared by the Appropriations Committee Democrats, outlines a few examples of the investments in America that have been forgone because of the financial cost of Iraq. Read the full fact sheet.Iraq War Panel: If Not Now, When?
August 23, 2006 Congressman Rothman makes the case to begin redeploying U.S. troops out of Iraq at a community gathering in Edgewater, NJ, hosted by Democracy For America and Bergen Grassroots. View photo.Emergency Supplemental Vote Reflects Continuing Opposition to the President's 'Stay-the-Course' Policy in Iraq
June 13, 2006 "Our troops in Iraq continue to serve with courage and bravery and I remain proud of them. Their successful mission to eliminate the terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was a great victory. However, al-Zarqawi's death does not change the fact that the President's failed policy in Iraq has cost too many American lives, tarnished America's image abroad, nearly exhausted our military, and taken our attention away from the Global War on Terrorism," said Rothman. Read more.Pressing Secretary of State to Commit to 'No ' Permanent U.S. Bases in Iraq
April 5, 2006 On Tuesday, April 4, Representative Rothman asked U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to say on the record that the U.S. will not build permanent military bases in Iraq. He also pressed her to explain the difference between a 'permanent' base and the 14 bases that the Pentagon has built in Iraq, which the Department of Defense characterizes as 'enduring'. Secretary Rice refused to offer an unequivocal statement against permanent U.S. bases and did not explain whether there is any difference between 'permanent' and 'enduring'. Read more.War in Iraq a Major Issue During Rothman's March 2006 Listening Sessions
March 20-23, 2006 Over 400 residents came out this week to voice their concerns about rising health costs, the Iraq War, and other issues they see facing their communities. Read more.Statement on Voting Against the Emergency Supplemental Spending Bill
March 16, 2006 "With my vote against today's supplemental spending bill, I am telling the President that he cannot count on me to continue paying for his stay the course strategy in Iraq. We must withdraw all our troops within six months, returning most of them home and leaving a quick-reaction force in the region," said Rothman. Read more.Rothman Discusses Security Situation in Iraq with U.S. Representative of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government
March 14, 2006 Congressman Rothman met with the U.S. Representative of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government, Qubad Talabany. They discussed the security situation in Iraq, the Iraqi political process, and U.S. foreign assistance for the Kurds. View photo.
Op-Ed: Why We Must Take All Our Troops Out of Iraq
February 23, 2006 "After September 11th, along with most members of Congress and the majority of the American people, I believed President Bush when he told us that terrorist acts by Saddam Hussein's agents were 'imminent,' would involve 'weapons of mass destruction,' and would take place 'on American soil.'I accepted his counsel that all of these terrible things would be prevented if we removed Saddam Hussein from power. Now we know that Saddam possessed no weapons of mass destruction and there was no such imminent threat. If I knew at the time of my vote what I know now, I would never have supported the President's invasion of Iraq," wrote Rothman. Read more.
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