Hinchey Statement On House Vote To Require Withdrawal From Iraq

Statement

Hinchey Statement On House Vote To Require Withdrawal From Iraq

Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today released the following statement in response to the passage of a measure in the House that would require a responsible redeployment of U.S. troops beginning within 120 days of enactment and ending by April 1, 2008. Hinchey voted for the measure.

"After more than four years in Iraq, more than 3,600 American lives have been lost, more than 26,000 troops have been wounded, and nearly a half trillion dollars have been spent. Despite this great tragedy and the fact that violence continues to rage on at an accelerating pace, President Bush wants to maintain the status quo. Tonight, we in the House provided him with an alternative plan that would begin the responsible withdrawal of our troops in four months and conclude that withdrawal by April 1 of next year. I am not sure how much more American blood needs to be shed before President Bush realizes that it's time to get out of Iraq. We must immediately end this disastrous and tragic occupation of a country that had no weapons of mass destruction and had no ties to al Qaeda prior to the U.S. invasion, contrary to the lies the president told the American people in order to gain their support.

"Congress took action tonight because we cannot sit around any longer while more of our men and women are killed each day because a stubborn president refuses to acknowledge that he is wrong. In the six months since the so-called 'surge' started, more than 25,000 troops have been sent to Iraq, approximately 600 have been killed, more than 3,000 have been wounded, and $60 billion has been spent. This is a tragedy of catastrophic proportions and it is a tragedy that needs to end immediately. It is time to bring our troops home now."

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