National Defense & Iraq

I had the privilege of visiting with our brave men and women serving in Iraq during a bipartisan Congressional delegation trip I took to the region.  Over the course of this visit I also met with General David Petraeus, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, as well as with Iraqi civilian leaders.  As a Member of Congress, and a member of the Armed Services Committee, I felt it was essential to meet first-hand with those most directly involved in the daily security operations, political negotiations, and rebuilding efforts in Iraq.  From these meetings, it was clear to me that a change in U.S. policy in Iraq is long overdue, and we must set a timetable that compels the Iraqis to take greater control of their country and begins the process of bringing our troops home.

Upon landing at Baghdad International Airport, it was incredible to see the military might we have brought to bear in Iraq.  Armored Humvees, MRAPs, helicopters, and vast array of other military equipment crowd the landscape and are representative of the extraordinary investment we have made in this war.

My time spent with our troops confirmed for me that we have the finest and most professional military force in the world. During my visit, I was also struck by the incredible talent and dedication with which our brave U.S. servicemen and women serve us. The members of our armed forces deserve tremendous credit, and we are immensely fortunate to have so many who are willing to sacrifice so much on our behalf. 

Our soldiers have done everything we've asked of them and more, and we must make sure we provide the resources for those who are currently overseas.  Our troops are often deployed for periods of up to fifteen months and many have been deployed overseas two and three times.  Our servicemen and women struggle with the considerable strain this time away from home puts on their families and loved ones.  As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I will work to make sure that those in harms way have the resources and support they need to do their job.

But, as the Iraq war enters its fifth year with no end in sight, a new direction is desperately needed.  The challenges of sectarian violence, a stagnant political process, and unreliable municipal services cannot be solved by the U.S. military, but rather must be achieved through swift action by the Iraqi government and people.

Now more than ever, I believe the best and most responsible way to bring about this change is to set a timetable that requires the Iraqi government to step up to the plate and that fully engages with our concerted effort, the international community to bring about a political solution. 

The Iraqis are like any of us; so long as they are not forced to confront a difficult problem, it is unlikely to get resolved.  If we give the impression that the U.S. military will remain indefinitely, there is little impetus for Iraqis to make the political concessions that will bring an end to their ongoing civil war. 

My commitment to setting a timetable was further reinforced by my meetings with General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, which took place in the heavily fortified green zone.  Both General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker, who are fulfilling an incredibly difficult mission to the best of their abilities, credited the recent decrease in violence with our increased troop presence in Iraq.  There was no doubt that increasing the number of troops serving in Iraq, the finest military force in the world, would have an impact.  Unfortunately, the Iraqi government has been unable to take sufficient advantage of this opportunity to reach a political settlement that can put Iraq on a path to peace. 

This inaction on the part of the Iraqi government cannot be used as an excuse to maintain our U.S. troop presence indefinitely, as the President seems content to do.  Rather we must send a clear message that however difficult it may be, the Iraqis have to find a way to move forward.
 
While our military has done everything we have asked of them, Iraqis must now come together and take responsibility for the future of their country.  From what I saw in Iraq, it is my belief that a fixed timetable for withdrawal of U.S. forces is the best way to achieve that result.