Issue Position: Iraq

Issue Position

In 2002, I voted to oppose President Bush's decision to invade Iraq, as I believed that a diplomatic solution was still possible. I remain convinced that this preemptive invasion and war with Iraq has weakened America's relationships with its allies, standing in the United Nations and NATO, and respect for international law. For these reasons, I became a proud member of the Congressional Out of Iraq Caucus, which was established to force a debate about the war in Iraq and the Bush Administration's justifications for the decision to go to war, to urge the return of U.S. service members to their families as soon as possible, and to provide a voice in Congress for the individuals and groups who support these efforts.

On August 31, 2010, President Obama announced the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the departure of the last major U.S. combat unit from Iraq. Approximately 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq conducting stability operations, focusing on advising, assisting, and training Iraqi Security Forces. In accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the U.S. and Iraq, these remaining troops will withdraw by the end of 2011.

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