Nadler Rejects Notion That Iraq War Has Made America Safe

Washington, DC -- Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today voted against a Congressional Resolution stating that the world and the United States are safer due to the war in Iraq.

"The Bush Administration and Republican Congress have their heads in the sand. On the very same day that a Baghdad hotel was destroyed by a bomb, the Administration and their Congressional allies supported and approved a Congressional Resolution claiming that the world is a safer place since the war in Iraq," said Nadler. "Osama bin Laden has not been captured and al Qaeda has not been dismantled. President Bush needs to wake up. Starting a war in Iraq based on lies has not made us safe."

Under the guise of honoring our troops, the Republican leadership in Congress introduced a resolution claiming that the world is a safer place after the war in Iraq. But last week, Republicans on the House Budget Committee rejected Democratic efforts to boost funding levels for military troops by $2.5 billion.

"Honoring our troops involves more than rhetoric," said Nadler. "The Republicans blocked Democratic attempts to introduce legislation that would give our troops in Iraq the armor they need to keep them safe, account honestly for the costs of the ongoing military operations in Iraq, assemble a true international coalition so that the United States does not have to bear nearly all the costs and casualties, and provide the health care and benefits our wounded servicemen and women earned when they come home."

"The Iraq war has not made America safe. What will make us safe are initiatives I have called for to secure and buy back weapons-grade uranium and plutonium from Russia, make critical improvements to our port security, and protect passenger airlines from missile attack," said Nadler. "Unfortunately, these are not initiatives that the Republicans are willing to properly fund."

Rep. Nadler has served in Congress since 1992. He represents the 8th Congressional District of New York, which includes parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

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