Washington, DC - As the Congress prepares to go back into session next week, the heads of the Progressive and ‘Out of Iraq’ caucuses warned today that the much anticipated White House report on Iraq is likely to be part of a strategy to “skew reality,” when it comes to the situation in Iraq.  The statement, issued by Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-9) and Lynn Woolsey (CA-6) and ‘Out of Iraq’ Caucus Chair Maxine Waters (CA-35), is below:

“The President’s Iraq policy has failed, and the much anticipated report to Congress on progress in Iraq cannot change or justify this failure. This expected report will not be an honest assessment of the civil war which rages in Iraq, but a weak, politically motivated case for the continuation of a failed policy.

“The congressionally mandated report to be delivered to Congress on September 11th will not be written by General Petraeus, but instead by the White House- the same White House that declared “mission accomplished” and ‘the insurgency is in its last throes.’ So confident is President Bush in the White House spin machine’s ability to skew reality, he is actually seeking an additional $50 billion in increased funding for his occupation of Iraq, on top of a pending $145 billion request for war funding.

“It is far past due for those in Congress who have supported the President’s failed policies to take a clear look at the situation on the ground.  According to a draft version of the Government Accountability Office’s assessment of the “surge” strategy in Iraq, White House claims of progress are unsubstantiated- Iraq has failed to meet all but three of the eighteen benchmarks for progress.  Most of the indicators for progress actually seem to have gotten worse.  Violence has increased, the Government of Iraq is a hair’s-width away from total disintegration, and the Iraqi Security Forces remain plagued by sectarian infiltration.  To suggest otherwise is to ignore the facts on the ground in Iraq. It is time to bring our troops home.

“That’s why 70 members of Congress joined together last month to sign a letter to President Bush putting him on notice that they ’will only support appropriating additional funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq during Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond for the protection and safe redeployment of all our troops out of Iraq before you leave office.’

“President Bush is pushing a failed policy in Iraq at the cost of American lives.  We will not stand idly by as the President offers us more of the same.  The only responsible option is to fully fund the safe and timely redeployment of all U.S. troops and military contractors from Iraq, and we will do everything we can to ensure that this Congress brings our troops home safely.”