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March 19, 2007
 
Statement of Rep. Neil Abercrombie on the Anniversary of the Iraq Invasion 

"Today we begin the fifth year of that war, and the Middle East and our own nation continue to bleed"
 
Washington, DC -- “There are other dates in America’s history as unfortunate, but few as certain in their tragic conclusion and yet so completely avoidable as March 19th, 2003: the day the United States of America began a war to confer the “gift of democracy” on Iraq.  Today, we begin the fifth year of that war, and the Middle East and our own nation continue to bleed.  U.S. troops are trapped in the middle of a civil war between religious sects, factions and tribes fighting each other for power.  Our very presence has become a rallying point for radical jihadists from across the world, who now travel to Iraq to prove themselves by blowing up American vehicles.

            “This week the House of Representatives will vote on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health and Iraq Accountability Act: 

  • It supports our troops on the battlefield;
  • It uses military readiness standards for U.S. forces and benchmarks for the Iraqi government developed by the Bush Administration;
  • It sets a responsible timeline for a phased redeployment of U.S. troops; and
  • It requires troop deployments to meet our own military's standards for training, equipment and protective armor.

 

“President Bush has actually threatened to veto the legislation. In doing so, he would be vetoing his own benchmarks for the performance of the Iraqi government.  He would be vetoing his own readiness standards for U.S. troops. 

            “By calling for a responsible, phased redeployment of our troops out of Iraq, the bill allows us to re-focus our military efforts in Afghanistan where al Qaeda and the Taliban are strengthening.

            “Congress has a choice: endorse President Bush’s open-ended commitment to a strategy that has not worked in four years, or hold the Administration and the Iraqi government accountable and set a responsible timeline for the phased redeployment of U.S. troops.

            “Congress has a choice.  In last November’s election, the American people made a clear statement that they wanted an end to the war.  Instead, President Bush has escalated our involvement, demands an open-ended commitment of U.S. combat troops in Iraq and a blank check from Congress to pay for it.

            “Congress has a choice.”

 

 

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