FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Wednesday, January 10, 2007
CONTACT: Yoni Cohen, (202) 225-3202

WASHINGTON – Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) tonight responded to President Bush’s Iraq policy address:
 
“Nearly four years old, President Bush’s War in Iraq has been an abysmal failure,” said Stark. “The war has cost more than $400 billion and taken the lives of more than 3,000 brave American troops and countless Iraqis. Time and time again, President Bush and Republicans in Congress made false claims about our supposed progress, only to have the situation on the ground get worse and worse. Today, our troops remain in harms way, even as Iraq has spiraled into civil war.”
 
“In his address, President Bush committed to more of the same – more troops, more wishful thinking, and more empty slogans,” Stark continued. “Bush didn’t offer a new strategy, he offered new spin. Republicans have repeatedly promised the Iraqis would soon take control of their own security. But the presence of American troops has made and will continue to make such an outcome less likely.” 
 
“Enough is enough. It is past time Congress takes America’s best interests into its own hands. I oppose escalation and, given the opportunity, will vote against providing billions in funding to deploy thousands of additional troops. Rather than send more servicemen and women to die in Iraq, we should serve the will of the American people and bring all of our troops home,” Stark concluded.