Kerry Responds to Bush Press Conference

Press Release

Kerry Responds to Bush Press Conference

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) offered the following statement today, following President George Bush's press conference.

"The President's promise of a veto rings as tragically hollow as his pledge of 'mission accomplished,'" said Kerry. "Congress must enforce a one year deadline for redeploying most U.S. troops from Iraq. President Bush stubbornly refuses to change the disastrous policy in Iraq, so this Congress has no choice but to force a change in course. No more open ended commitment, no more leaving American troops in the middle of an Iraqi civil war. The American mission in Iraq will be to train Iraqis and chase Al Qaeda, not do for Iraqis what they must do for themselves. Unlike this administration, when it comes to standing by our troops, we mean business.

"An administration that misled America into war is once again trying to mislead when it comes to supporting our troops. If the President uses his veto, he is the one denying funding for our troops. Our brave American troops deserve nothing less than a policy that is equal to their sacrifice. Congress has done its job, now the Administration needs to do its job and force Iraqi politicians to do their job. Get the funds to our troops, and get Iraqis to achieve the political compromise this misguided escalation was supposed to make possible.

"The President says he sent more troops into Baghdad to give the Iraqi government 'breathing space,' to find a political solution to the civil war. But where is the progress in meeting key political benchmarks - and where is the accountability for squabbling Iraqi politicians? American soldiers should not die while the Iraqis refuse to compromise."

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