- Calls on President and Congress to honor the voices of the American public -

Washington, DC - Lynn Woolsey (Petaluma), who in January of 2005 became the first Member of Congress to demand a withdrawal from Iraq, today, almost two years later, again called upon the President and Congress to heed the calls from the American public for a military withdrawal from Iraq.

“On November 7th the American public expressed its desire for an end to the US occupation of Iraq and to bring our troops home.  They did not ask to send more troops, or to continue the occupation,” Woolsey said.  “The American public swept the Democrats into power so that we could challenge the President on what has become the important issue of our day.

“Mr. President, if you won't listen to the American people and bring our troops home, then the Congress must do your job for you.

“Our position, as Democrats as well as Americans, must be to fully withdraw our combat troops within six months.  If the Administration doesn't comply, if they defy the will of the people and the Congress, then the Congress can and must cut off the funding for the occupation,” Woolsey added.

Recent polls have shown a continued decline in support for President Bush’s handling of the war; with a recent LA Times/Bloomberg News survey showing that 52% of the public supports a timetable for withdrawal.  Only 12% of respondents supported an increase in the number troops as advocated by some Republican Senators.  Woolsey warned of the dangers of continuing the occupation, and called upon the Congress to force a withdrawal:

“Our initial invasion ignited the Iraqi civil war, and our continued military presence is fanning the flames and turning Iraq into a civil war and a hotbed of terrorism.  People are less safe today than they were before we got there, and yet the White House continues to refuse to recognize the facts on the ground, going so far as to reject the advice of the bipartisan Baker-Hamilton Commission, particularly its recommendations for a regional dialogue.”

While calling for our troops to come home, Woolsey acknowledges the potential hardships on the Iraqi public, favoring a massive diplomatic and humanitarian offensive.

“Bringing the troops home is the right decision from a moral, strategic, political and national security perspective, but we must continue to help Iraq rebuild its economy and infrastructure.

“The world is looking to us for leadership,” Woolsey said, adding that “Ending the military occupation will take more courage than to stay the course… but it must be done.”