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Price-Miller Resolution on Iraq
 
Washington, Dec 16, 2005 - Today, US Rep. David Price (NC-04) made the following statement on the House floor:

"Mr. Speaker, the Republican leadership’s resolution turns the Iraqi elections – a historic moment for the Iraqi people by any account – from a point of pride to a point of partisanship.
"As usual, the minority was prohibited from offering a constructive substitute. We could have offered a measure that congratulated the Iraqi people on a successful election. Or we might have put forward a substitute, similar to one that passed resoundingly in the Senate, that would have required the President at last to submit a detailed plan for phasing out the occupation.
"The leadership refused to let us do either, opting instead for a measure that divides and distracts.
"As a statement of policy, this resolution is deeply flawed. It rejects a plan for bringing our troops home, it fails to empower the Iraqis to take charge of their own future, and it blindly adopts the vague formula the President has repeatedly put forth: 'as they stand up, we stand down.'
"As we’ve come to know very well from this 'mission accomplished' president, catchy slogans do not make effective foreign policy.
"Standing up Iraqi troops is a critical step in empowering the Iraqi state, but American national security demands additional priorities: that we maximize Iraq’s chance of a successful transition to self-rule while minimizing the possibility of civil war; that we stabilize the region, preventing the terrorists from taking hold; and that we protect the men and women in American uniforms.
"t’s high time we took up a real measure to deal with the situation in Iraq, such as H. Con. Res. 70, which I’ve introduced with Brad Miller, now cosponsored by 17 members.
"This approach takes into account the Iraqis’ recent steps toward sovereignty with two successful elections. It recognizes the valor of our troops, requires a detailed exit strategy of the President, calls for an immediate initial drawdown, and sends a strong signal that we don’t intend to occupy Iraq indefinitely.
"Why won’t the House Republican leadership let us vote on such a measure? Because they fear it would pass, and they fear embarrassing the President by calling him to account.
"Mr. Speaker, let’s start giving the American people what they’re looking for: honesty, accountability, and a serious plan going forward– three things that have been sorely lacking since President Bush launched this war."