Hill Awaiting Iraq Progress Report from Administration

Press Release

Hill Awaiting Iraq Progress Report from Administration

Congressman Hill is awaiting the progress report on military operations in Iraq to be delivered to Congress by General David Petraeus on July 15, 2007. Recent news reports indicate the conditions on the ground in Iraq continue to deteriorate as suicide bombings escalate. Gen. Petraeus has already made clear his intentions to ask Congress for more time to deliver his September 15, 2007 report to them.

"I'm very disturbed by recent news reports coming out of Iraq," Hill said. "As I have always said, I am incredibly proud of the work our military is doing. But, as military and civilian casualties continue to mount, we must take another hard look at this situation. I am very troubled by reports that the Iraqi government is not using the troop surge for the strategic purposes intended, and hope that this is not a sign of their unwillingness to take control of their own country."

As part of the Fiscal Year 2007 Supplemental appropriations bill, top military leaders must report to Congress regarding progress made in Iraq on both July 15 and September 15, 2007. While not generally expecting a plethora of information in the first report, Congress expects real progress to be made by September 15 when they will be considering another round of funding for the continuation of the war.

"The American people's patience is running very thin," Hill said. "And, my patience is as well. We cannot keep our troops over there indefinitely, or for a decade as some are now suggesting. The Iraqi people must step up to the plate and take control of their own destiny. We simply cannot do that for them and we cannot ask our troops to attempt to fulfill that mission."

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