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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps will vote no on a Republican drafted resolution concerning the war in Iraq. Capps reiterated her opposition to the war in Iraq and articulated her view that the Iraq war is not improving our national security or advancing our efforts to fight global terror.
A copy of Congresswoman Capps’ speech follows:
Speech of Rep. Lois Capps
H. Res. 861 – The Iraq War
June 15, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this resolution.
Let us be clear from the outset that those of us who oppose the Iraq war stand solidly and proudly in support of our troops and their families.
To suggest that calling for the return home of our brave troops somehow denigrates their service or their sacrifice is absurd.
We can best support our troops by bringing them home.
Mr. Speaker, the terrible numbers we throw around are not mere statistics. Every one represents the tragic story of a ruined life and a shattered family:
Nearly 2,500 American troops are dead.
More than 18,000 are wounded, many grievously injured.
The average tour for National Guard members has been 342 days, turning the lives of countless American families upside down.
The material cost of the Iraq war is about $320 billion.
But you can never put a price on its toll in human suffering.
Nor can you realistically argue, Mr. Speaker, that war in Iraq has made our country safer or advanced our effort to combat global terror.
Those who come to this floor and link Iraq to 9/11 are simply wrong.
They are factually wrong because there remains no evidence that Saddam was involved in the al Qaeda attacks on our nation.
And they are morally wrong to invoke the memory of the victims of September 11 to justify this indefensible war of choice.
I am pleased that al Zarqawi is dead. But his death does not change the fact that Iraq has become a haven for terrorists and the war is the best recruitment tool we could have handed our enemies.
No, Mr. Speaker, those of us who oppose this war are not “soft” on security. We believe strongly and passionately that keeping our troops in the middle of this increasingly bloody civil war only weakens our security.
Every day we stay in Iraq means our armed forces will continue to be stretched well beyond their limits. It means prolonged violence, instability and economic havoc in Iraq. And it means that we divert our resources from tracking down Osama bin Laden.
How on earth does this policy increase our national security?
Mr. Speaker, it is a disgrace that it has taken this long for Congress to spend a few hours of our day debating the Iraq war.
But the American people will not be fooled. They recognize that one day of debate on a cynical, politically-motivated resolution is no substitute for a thoughtful Iraq policy that advances our national interests.
The vast majority of Americans opposes this war and wants our troops home.
Let’s listen to their voices.
Let’s vote no on this resolution.
Let’s say no to the President’s open-ended commitment to this disastrous war.
Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.
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