The Iraq War

Calling for De-Escalation of the Iraq War Since Taking Office

Introduced H.R. 787, the Iraq De-Escalation Act of 2007, in the 110th Congress

• The Iraq De-Escalation Act sought to begin bringing our troops home from Iraq and while refocusing the efforts of American armed forces on Afghanistan and the hunt for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. It urged the President to send a Special Envoy to Iraq to begin the important work of engaging in diplomacy with key nations in the region.
• The Iraq De-Escalation Act would have begun a phased redeployment of troops from Iraq with the goal that all combat brigades redeploy from Iraq within 16 months, while putting forward specific benchmarks for success in Iraq, including economic redevelopment, and establishing a timeline to redeploy all of our troops.
• In addition, the Iraq De-Escalation Act provided for a strategic strike force that would remain in the region to train Iraqis, protect against more violence, and perform counterterrorist activities.

Accountability and Oversight Of Waste, Fraud and Abuse of War Spending

Introduced H. Res. 97, The Iraq Accountability Act, in the 110th Congress

• The Iraq Accountability Act would provide much-needed oversight of private contractors in Iraq, and of how funding for the Iraq War is budgeted and spent.
• The bill calls for transparency and accountability in how Iraq War funds are spent, along with calling for the creation of a Truman Commission-type committee to investigate the awarding of contracts, and to curb waste, fraud and abuse. Additionally, this resolution recognizes the need to fund the Iraq War through the normal budgeting process, and not through “emergency” supplemental spending bills
• Importantly, the Act encourages Iraqis to take responsibility for their own country.

Refocusing Our Efforts on Afghanistan and Al Qaeda

• America was attacked on 9/11 by al Qaeda operatives who had been trained and given safe harbor in Afghanistan. For too long, the Bush Administration focused America’s military efforts on refereeing a religious civil war in Iraq, rather than focusing on bringing to justice those responsible for the murder of over 3,000 innocent Americans.
• Years after the Taliban and al Qaeda were ousted from Afghanistan, a Taliban-led insurgency threatens the country’s stability, and al Qaeda has re-established a safe-haven just across the border in Pakistan.
• Congressman Murphy supports President Obama’s efforts to begin bringing the war in Iraq to a close so that we can better focus our efforts on Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the true threat to our national security lies.

Voted Against Blank Check War Funding & Working to Reinvest Here at Home

• Congressman Murphy pledged never to vote for funding for the War in Iraq unless it was attached to specific benchmarks for the Iraqis, and to a timeline for bringing our troops home. He kept that promise by consistently voting against blank checks for then-President Bush.
• The war in Iraq costs American taxpayers over $2 billion per week, and Congressman Murphy believes it is past time to bring the war to an end so we can reinvest that money here at home, revitalize our economy, and bring good-paying jobs to the 8th District.