U.S. Congressman Bill Foster

The War in Iraq

The War in Iraq

I share the concern of many Americans regarding our current involvement in Iraq. To honor the members of our armed forces and their families who have given the ultimate sacrifice, Congress must continue to conduct vigorous oversight and hold the administration and the Iraqi government accountable for our mission in Iraq. We also must provide our returning service members the care and benefits they deserve.

As firm as I am about our obligation to our troops, I am troubled about their continued presence in Iraq. While we continue to referee a centuries old conflict there, Al Qaeda is regenerating along the Pakistan/Afghanistan border. It is long past time to begin to redeploy and rebuild our forces. Our presence in Iraq and the Administration’s management of the conflict is diminishing our ability to fight our true enemies, and it is preventing us from addressing needs here at home.

Going forward, Congress must work to make sure that the United States is effectively fighting terrorism and to do so we must ensure the strength of our military. As noted by many military experts, our military—especially the U.S. Army—is stretched thin. Without a change in course in Iraq, I am concerned our armed forces will not be fully prepared to respond to future threats.

The War in Iraq

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Bill Foster