Posted on 01/11/2007 6:42:42 AM PST by Sub-Driver
Escalating Our Military Involvement in Iraq Sends Precisely the Wrong Message
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Richard Durbin released the following statement tonight on President Bush's address to the nation on the war in Iraq:
“Last November, the American people delivered a strong message of no confidence in the President's Iraq policy and clearly expressed their desire for a new direction. The President had an opportunity tonight to demonstrate that he understood the depth of the concern in the country, make a long overdue course correction, and articulate a clear mission for our engagement in Iraq. Instead, he chose to escalate our involvement in Iraq's civil war by proposing a substantial increase in the number of our forces there. This proposal endangers our national security by placing additional burdens on our already over-extended military thereby making it even more difficult to respond to other crises.
“While we all want to see a stable and peaceful Iraq, many current and former senior military leaders have made clear that sending more American combat troops does not advance that goal. Our troops have performed the difficult missions given to them in Iraq with great courage. The Congress and the American people will continue to support them and provide them with every resource they need. But our military forces deserve a policy commensurate with the sacrifices they have been asked to make. Regrettably, the President has not provided that tonight.
“Rather than escalating our involvement in Iraq by sending additional troops, we believe that a plan for the way forward in Iraq requires these elements:
* Shifting greater responsibility to the Iraqis for their security and transitioning the principal mission of our forces from combat to training, logistics, force protection, and counter terrorism operations; * Beginning the phased redeployment of our forces in the next four to six months; and * Implementing an aggressive diplomatic strategy, both within the region and beyond, which reflects the continuing obligation of the international community to help stabilize Iraq and which assists the Iraqis in achieving a sustainable political settlement, including by amending their constitution.
“Iraqi political leaders will not take the necessary steps to achieve a political resolution to the sectarian problems in their country until they understand that the U.S. commitment is not open-ended. Escalating our military involvement in Iraq sends precisely the wrong message and we oppose it.
“In the days ahead, Congress will exercise its Constitutional responsibilities by giving the President’s latest proposal the scrutiny our troops and the American people expect. We will demand answers to the tough questions that have not been asked or answered to date. The American people want a change of course in Iraq. We intend to keep pressing President Bush to provide it.”
Yeah, nancy, you ignorant commie slut. It means we are not surrendering.
Oh Shut up, Ms. America.
so far, I haven't seen the dems come up with a single idea of what THEY'D do to correct the situation other than to cut 'n run..
I agree. Can't we just leave these nice fellas alone and let them get back to what they were doing before we came in- planting flowers and selling shoes. They'll leave us alone for sure. Can't we all just get along...
/s
Withdrawal of troops, on the other hand, sends exactly the message our adversaries want to hear.
Why is it about 'sending messages'? We are at war. It should be about winning.
Yeah, at least the Democrats. They want to turn around and run away.
I don't really think that's what most of us want.
Yes, it means that the "Democrat leadership" are not in charge of the Executive Branch. They only control the Legistlative Branch.
I believe that electing bella Pelosi Speaker of the House of Representatives sent the wrong message, especially to our enemies.
C'mon Freepers...stop calling this ignorant slut an ignorant slut!
She actually isn't allowed an opinion on the Iraq war because, per demonrat talking points, she never served in combat and so can't be an advocate for or against the war.
While I applaud the Pres for admitting that it was a mistake in not having more boots on the ground, adding more troops will do no good unless they are allowed to fight the battles as they are trained, meaning none of this politically correct bullshit...they need to make a beeline for Al-Sadr, kill him and all of his militia.
Not true. The think that Iran and Syria are part of the solution and we should use diplomacy to correct things.
The use of the word "escalation" is telling. The idea that the US is behind the violence in Iraq is nonsense. I guess according to Pelosi, a decrease in our troop strength would reduce the violence, ergo, remove them all and the violence will stop.
They would wave the white flag as Bubba did every time terrorists hit us. WTC 1993. OKC. USS Cole. US Embassies.
John Kerry's policy would've been to accept a nusiance level of terrorism. Focus on advancing Socialism at home.
I don't even think she believes what she's saying. This is one weird time in America.
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