WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) today released the following statement after General David Petraeus's testimony before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. 
It was, as always, a high honor to hear General Petraeus testify about the war in Iraq. I have admired General Petraeus since his days at Fort Leavenworth, and no one who has met the man can doubt his skill and patriotism. He has served America honorably.

In view of today's testimony, I remain deeply concerned about the impact of the Iraq war on our military readiness. Our troops are clearly strained by repeated, fifteen-month deployments, and the Army is burning through supplies and equipment at an alarming rate. In this age of global threats, I am gravely concerned that America is devoting so many military resources to Iraq.

Please understand these aren’t my assessments. These are the clearly stated opinions of our senior military leaders: 

• General George Casey, the Chief of Staff of the Army, stated that there is an “invisible red line” that would indicate that our current operations can no longer be sustained. Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said that “I think we’re close to (the red line) now.” – American Forces Press Service, April 2, 2008   

• In his March 30, 2008 appearance on Meet The Press, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency General Mike Hayden flatly said that the next 9/11-style attack would come from the Pakistan/Afghanistan border region. “… what I can tell you about is the situation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, which presents clear and present danger to Afghanistan, to Pakistan and to the West in general, and to the United States in particular.” The entire transcript of General Hayden’s interview is available at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23866794  

• A National Intelligence Estimate dated July 2007 reported that al Qaeda has regained its pre-9/11 strength in the border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
  
  I appreciate General Petraeus' clear understanding of the strains on our military, and his recommendations carry great weight. As we move forward in Iraq, we must not lose sight of our highest goal: to protect America.