FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 06, 2005

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi Statement on President Bush’s Speech on Iraq and War on Terror

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in response to President Bush’s speech this morning on Iraq:

“Today was an opportunity for the President to be candid with the American people about the status of democracy in Iraq, and when he will bring our troops home.  Instead, the President offered little more than empty rhetoric, claiming that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror – a position that is simply not supported by the facts.  The President went into Iraq under a false premise, without a plan, and has totally mismanaged our involvement.  Now he is trying to justify his actions with a series of excuses.

“Democrats are committed to fighting and winning the war on terror.  But the Iraq war has made us less safe, and led to squandered opportunities to fight global terror because of the allocation of resources in Iraq.”

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi