Friday, June 16, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today Congressman David Wu released the statement below following a debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on the war in Iraq.

We are fighting a war on terror, a war we did not start or choose. But to use that war as either justification for a war in Iraq, or a reason for staying, is wrong.
 
A lesson I've learned in life is you finish what you start. This Administration took us off-track from the war on terror and chose the war in Iraq. The torch of the war on terror should, and shall be, passed to future generations, but the war in Iraq was started by this Administration and should be finished by this Administration.
 
This Administration decided to launch the Iraq war based on, at best, shaky evidence. Until that time, this country had historically set a high threshold in its decisions to go to war.  We have done so because outcomes are sometimes uncertain, and the cost in human lives is frequently high.
 
We who question this Administration's decisions have faced the charge that to be candid about this war would upset military morale or even be unpatriotic. Now is the time for this President to be honest and forthright with the American people about his ill-conceived war. In candor, the Administration should say to the American people that no matter what course we choose now, the future in Iraq will be bloody and costly.
 
I have listened to our generals about their view of the future. General Casey has personally said to me that he needs until the summer of 2007 to fully train Iraqi forces. I am willing to allow General Casey the time to complete this task, but we should begin an immediate redeployment of troops.

General Casey's projection might place Iraq on a course to embrace a self-governing democracy.  However, the single most important action the newly elected Iraqi government can take to give that government legitimacy with its own people is to ask Americans to leave-- to have Iraqis to fight for Iraqis rather than have Americans fight for Iraqis. 
 
Seldom mentioned these days is our original mission in Afghanistan, the frontline of the real war on terror.  We still have time for a complete success, but unfortunately we do not have adequate resources in Afghanistan today.

 

In order to win, the immediate redeployment of troops from Iraq must include sending some troops to Afghanistan as well as bringing some directly home from Iraq.  It is time to return our attention and resources to hunting down Osama Bin Laden and ensuring Afghanistan does not again become a breeding ground for terrorism.
 
A little over sixty years ago, we fought a great war after Pearl Harbor. By this Christmas, the Iraq war will have lasted longer than World War II.

 

Four long years ago, many in this Chamber voted to go to war in Iraq. How many would do so today, knowing they are committing us to a war longer than World War II?
 
Let us commit to a final push for an end to the bloodshed and violence in Iraq.  Let us return to our original mission to fight the global war on terror that this Administration sidelined in Iraq. 

I support our troops in Iraq. I support them all the way home--soon. 

 

 

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