Congresswoman Napolitano Responds to Bush War Plan

(Washington D.C.)- Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (D-Norwalk) made the following statements today opposing President Bush’s plan to deploy additional troops to Iraq:

“Yesterday, we heard the President present his proposal. His address was not a surprise – it lacked the substance the American people were waiting for.  I remain opposed to sending any additional troops to Iraq, and as a member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, have consistently opposed and will continue to oppose putting more American men and women at risk.  I urge the President to work with Iraq’s neighbors and the international community to ensure other countries’ commitments to Iraq’s security situation, the training of Iraqi troops and police, and financial support.

“Sending more troops means putting more young Americans in harms way, in a country embroiled in civil war which I cannot support nor justify to my constituents.  Our recent short-term troops surges in Iraq have not prevented nor diminished violence escalating, and we continue to see our soldiers killed.  There is nothing to suggest that this strategy is any different.

“Throughout 2006, President Bush kept saying that ‘As Iraqis stand up, we will stand down.’  A surge in troop levels is in direct violation of his own principle, and provides further evidence that we are losing the war in Iraq.

“The President needs to accept that the underlying problems in Iraq are political, not military.  More troops are not the answer.  This strategy has failed, and will continue to fail, as indicated by former generals fired for calling for a different approach.  The Iraqi leaders need to know that we are firm in our determination to have them take responsibility for their own security.  Currently, the Iraqi cabinet is involved in sectarian violence and infighting, and sending more American troops into this disaster will only embolden them to keep on fighting.

“The US midterm elections were proof that the majority of Americans want redeployment of our forces. The Bush administration needs to heed the message and reduce the strain on the American military and bring our men and women in uniform back home.  Our country needs not only our men and women home with their families, but we must not continue to fund a war we cannot win.”

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