Washington, DC - Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma), who in January of 2005 became the first Member to call for a withdrawal from Iraq, today responded to reports of a classified Pentagon report on the military options in Iraq.  According to media accounts the three options that were discussed by military planners were to “go big,” and increase the number of American troops in Iraq; “go long,” by continuing to occupy the country for the foreseeable future; or “go home,” and withdraw our troops.  Woolsey, the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a founding member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, issued the following statement in response:

“Two weeks ago, the American public took to the ballot box and voiced their frustration against President Bush’s failed Iraq policy by handing him and his party a resounding defeat.  But two weeks later the President still is not listening to the American public - when it comes to fixing his mess in Iraq we need more than a new face over at the Pentagon, we need an entirely new playbook.

“Our current strategy in Iraq, that of occupation, isn’t working.  It’s not going to work tomorrow, not next month, and certainly not next year.  ‘Go long’ is not a realistic strategy to secure the country, or bring our troops home.

“Every day that we’re in Iraq our military presence inflames the violence, and further puts our troops in harm’s way.  The only choice that we have is to shrink our military footprint, bring our troops home, and work internationally to let the Iraqis take control of their country.”