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Senator Boxer: Our Fifth Year in Iraq
March 25, 2008
Last week marked five years since U.S. combat operations began in Iraq. You can read my statement, issued on March 19th, below
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
Senator Barbara Boxer
Statement on the Iraq War
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
San Francisco, CA – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today made the following statement on the Iraq war:
“Today marks five years since U.S. combat operations began in Iraq, and I am sad to say we are still embroiled in a war with no end in sight. In these five years, we have lost 3,990 of America’s brave sons and daughters. We have nearly 30,000 wounded.
“We have Marine Corps units from Twentynine Palms serving their fifth tour of duty in Iraq. Our military is being stretched to the breaking point.
“And yet, on Monday, during a visit to Iraq that still has to be cloaked in secrecy because it’s so dangerous, Vice President Cheney said, 'If you look back on those five years it has been a difficult, challenging but nonetheless successful endeavor ... and it has been well worth the effort.'
“I wonder—if the Administration had said 5 years ago, when they were starting this reckless endeavor, that it would result in loss of nearly 4,000 service members; that it would mean 30,000 of our troops wounded, many who will never be the same; that we would spend more than half a trillion dollars—would the Congress or the American people have said, that sounds worth the effort?
“Or would everyone have said, that is too high a price to pay? It is time to end this reckless endeavor.
“Our brave men and women in uniform have performed remarkably. They have reduced violence with the surge, but the political resolution that the President promised has simply not happened. General Petraeus, the Commander of Multinational Forces in Iraq, said last week that 'no one' in the U.S. and Iraqi governments 'feels that there has been sufficient progress by any means in the area of national reconciliation.'
“Our own military leaders have told us time and again, there is no military solution to the situation in Iraq.
“It is time to begin the responsible redeployment of our troops out of Iraq. It is time for the Iraqis to take control of their own security and the future of their country.”
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