FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 13, 2006

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

Pelosi: Our Troops on the Ground in Iraq Are Paying the Price for President’s Poor Planning

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

“As we approach the third anniversary of the war in Iraq, the President today chose to focus on a high-tech effort to defeat improvised explosive devices (IEDs).  The threat of these devices persists because the Bush Administration failed to have a strategy in place when the war started to get control of supplies of Iraqi weapons and bring security and stability to the country.  Iraq remains awash in the munitions used to make IEDs, and sectarian bombings now pose as great a security threat as insurgent attacks. 

“This is just one example of the poor planning by the President for the war in Iraq – and our troops on the ground are paying the price.  Instead of launching yet another public relations campaign, President Bush should use his speeches this month to provide a strategy to bring our brave men and women home safely and soon.”

“ 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