Statement by Congressman Perlmutter Reacting to President's Speech on Iraq
Statement by Congressman Perlmutter Reacting to President's Speech on Iraq
Below is a statement from Congressman Ed Perlmutter in reaction to the President's Speech on Iraq.
"Tonight President Bush laid out his latest plan for Iraq. However, nothing in the President's plan presents a "new way forward", or a change in course, which was the mandate from the American people on election day. We've talked a lot about change, but the President's plan is not the kind of change that I have been talking about or the kind of change that the people of the 7th Congressional District or in America have been talking about.
Unfortunately, President Bush has decided to turn his back on the best advice from our military leaders, generals and even the bipartisan Iraq Study Group by demanding 20,000 more troops for what has clearly become a civil war. I do not trust that President Bush's troop request would be a temporary surge - instead I believe it would be a long-term commitment to Bush's failed strategy that would only put more of our brave men and women in harms way. Our military is already stretched to a breaking point and I cannot in good conscience support an escalation of troops that would only make things worse by extending the deployment of our current troops and accelerating the deployment of thousands of others.
Americans have said that we want a real change in direction in Iraq, and the President's plan simply is not the answer. Instead, we need to transition security to the Iraqi government. We need to renew our commitment to a multi-national reconstruction and economic development effort, and we need to redeploy our troops outside of Iraq by the Spring of 2008.
President Bush is the Commander & Chief and I don't believe Congress can micromanage a war, but is my hope that moderate Republicans and Democrats in Congress can convince the President to show true leadership and push Iraq to take responsibility for its security, its people and its future."
Additionally, Congressman Perlmutter will speak on the floor of the House at 11 a.m. EST on January 11, 2007 regarding the Stem Cell bill. The Congressman will also preside over the House of Representatives from 4:30-7 p.m. EST on January 11, 2007.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/co07_perlmutter/stmt_070110_iraq.html