You cannot defeat beliefs with bullets. What we have in Iraq and in the Middle East are beliefs that are different from ours.  This conflict can only be won by understanding and through changes, which God would put in people's hearts, and not through bullets.  Because of this, one of the first Congressional caucuses I joined upon taking office was the Out of Iraq Caucus.

Earlier this month, I co-signed a letter with 46 of my colleagues supporting language in the next Iraq supplemental funding bill that emphasizes the Iraqi government’s cost-sharing responsibility.  It is time that the Iraqi government to stand up for itself.  The Iraqi government should have a more active role in the reconstruction projects and training for security forces.  By handing these responsibilities over to the Iraqi people, our troop withdrawal will have less impact on the economy of their country.

In October 2007, I was able to take part in a bi-partisan Congressional fact-finding mission to Iraq which also included briefings in Qatar and Jordan and visits to the American wounded soldiers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany.

On my trip, I met several of our dedicated soldiers in Iraq, including many from Tennessee.  They are doing an amazing job under the very harsh circumstances in which they have been placed. They told me of their need to be redeployed every 12 months – not every 15 months as they currently are – because the pressure is wearing on them and wearing on their personal lives. Seeing the fresh faces of the young men and women, living each day in harm’s way, was heartrending.

My Congressional colleagues and I met with U.S. General David Petraeus, Iraq War Commander, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.  I was taken by surprise when Prime Minister Maliki indicated that the sectarian war that has ravaged his country is now over.  I wasn’t impressed by his remark and I reminded him of the images Americans still see every night – images of continued destruction of cities and hamlets throughout Iraq and deaths of innocent Iraqis and heroic young American men and women.   The involvement of America in the internal affairs of Iraq must cease, and I will do everything in my power as your Member of Congress to press for the Iraqis to resolve their own internal differences while pressing for the redeployment of our troops.

I believe the original mission in Iraq has been accomplished.  Saddam Hussein and his government were removed from power and the mission was proclaimed accomplished over four years ago.  The best way to keep our troops safe is to bring them out of the line of fire and away from the occupation in Iraq.  That is why I supported a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq so that our troops, many of whom have served multiple tours in Iraq, can return home to their families and voted to express disapproval with sending 20,000 more troops to Iraq in 2007.

Additionally, I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 508 Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2007.  The bill declares that it is U.S. policy to:

• End the occupation of Iraq
• Accelerate the training and equipping of Iraq's military and security forces
• Pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy
• Help preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq as a nation state
• Account for any missing U.S. Armed Forces personnel or U.S. citizens in Iraq
• Turn over internal security activities and military operations in Iraq to the elected government of Iraq within six months.

YouTube Videos: 

• Congressman Cohen on Codel to Iraq and Troop Redeployment 10/10/07
• Congressman Cohen Adresses Congress Upon Return from Iraq 10/09/07
• Congressman Cohen Asks Questions at Progressive Caucus Briefing on Iraq 09/19/07
• Congressman Cohen Gives Opening Remarks at Progressive Caucus Briefing on Iraq 09/19/07
• Congressman Cohen Reads Letter from Sister of Fallen Soldier 09/18/07
• Congressman Steve Cohen on the Need to Come Home 07/18/07