Washington,
Dec 14, 2006 -
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement today in response to news reports that the Congressional leadership plans to put the war on budget:
“On November 7, the voters delivered to Congress a powerful mandate for a new direction for Iraq. That direction is out. Congress must now act to cut off the funds, end the war, bring our troops home and begin the process of rebuilding the country.
“It has been proven time and time again that this war cannot be won militarily. The Iraq Study Group says it, our generals say it, and every foreign policy expert says so. The only path to victory in Iraq is diplomacy. We need to take a new course of action. It is now the responsibility of the new Congress to set a new course for Iraq. On October 1, Congress appropriated $70 billion for the war in Iraq. We have the money to bring the troops home now, provide for an international peacekeeping presence, and support the Iraqi government in their reconciliation process.
“It has been reported that early this spring, the Administration will ask for an as much as $160 billion for the misadventure in Iraq. That amount is triple the annual budget of the U.S. Department of Education. This brings the total cost of war for FY 2007 to $230 billion. And it would give President Bush money to continue the war through the end of his term. This is certainly not what the American people intended in November when they voted to return Democrats to power in the House and Senate based on widespread public opposition to the war in Iraq.
“Democrats must not let this happen. The American people have demanded a new direction—and that direction is out of Iraq. We are spending more than $8 billion a month in Iraq currently. In less than two years the war and the so called defense budget will cost more than $1 trillion.
“The Democrats in Congress should not buy President Bush’s war. Every passage of funding for the war is again Congress authorizing the war. This runs directly counter to the wishes of the voters who put the Democrats in power specifically to end the war.
“Accountability is not enough. Oversight is not enough. Regular budget order is not enough. The only way to end this war is to cut off the funds. And only Congress has the power to end this war. Congress should end the occupation now and bring the troops home.”
