Oberstar: Reports Show Bush Leadership Failing in Iraq

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Oberstar: Reports Show Bush Leadership Failing in Iraq

Congressman Jim Oberstar says two reports made public today show that President Bush's plan to combat terrorism by Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups is failing, and America is making little or no progress in Iraq. Oberstar says he will vote for legislation to begin redeploying U.S. troops from Iraq when it comes up for a vote today. "Our troops are doing their jobs effectively and with honor, they have tackled every mission set before them, but the strategy in Iraq is flawed. It's time for the President to face up to facts and set a new course in Iraq," said Oberstar.

This morning President Bush released, and then held a news conference on, the Initial Benchmark Assessment Report on Iraq. Congress set 18 benchmarks to determine if progress is being made in Iraq. Of those only eight are receiving a satisfactory rating by the White House's own assessment. "This assessment admits that Iraqi forces are not stepping up to the plate and taking control of efforts to make Iraq secure," said Oberstar. "There is no clear exit strategy from the White House and no end in sight to this conflict. If we leave it up to President Bush our troops will be caught in the crosshairs of the Sunnis and Shi'ites who are locked in bitter religious warfare."

"I take issue with some areas where the President claims to be making progress," Oberstar continued. "The report says the benchmark of reducing sectarian violence has been met, when in fact it has simply dropped to the same level it was in January of 2006. It's hard to say that 600 deaths a month is a ‘satisfactory' number."

The second report is a five-page threat assessment released by the National Counterterrorism Center titled: "Al-Qaeda Better Positioned to Strike at the West." The report concludes that Al-Qaeda is as strong today as it was in 2001 when the United States was attacked on 9-11. The terrorist group was able to regroup and rebuild its forces using a safe haven in the ungoverned spaces of Pakistan.

This afternoon, the House is scheduled to vote on the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act. This bill would require U.S. troops to begin redeploying from Iraq in 120 days. The measure would also require the Iraqi government to be policing its own streets by April of 2008.

"The President has mishandled this war, misjudged the political situation in the Middle East and is unwilling to look at the facts and set a new course," said Oberstar. "It's time for Congress to set that course for him. I will vote to do that later today."

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