Send Iraqi-U.S. Troop Agreement to Congress, Says Bob Barr

Statement

Send Iraqi-U.S. Troop Agreement to Congress, Says Bob Barr

"The Bush administration reportedly has reached an agreement to keep U.S. combat troops in Iraq until the end of 2011," says Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party's nominee for president. "Congress should demand to see the proposed agreement and should approve, disapprove, or modify it."

"The administration has treated the war as a presidential prerogative from the very beginning," notes Barr. "It is time for Congress to insist on fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities. If the president refuses to comply, Congress should cut off money for any bases in Iraq."

"The proposed agreement is much better than what President Bush and Sen. John McCain—who talked about staying in Iraq for a century or more—earlier had sought to impose on the American people," observes Barr, "and for that we can thank the Iraqi people, who have begun demanding their sovereignty back. However," Barr continues, "2011 is still too late. U.S. forces should come home from Iraq next year, not more than three years hence. And it is up to Congress, with constitutional authority over war and treaties, to decide on the length of America's commitment," he adds, "not the president and his advisers."

"The invasion of Iraq was a tragic mistake," explains Barr. "Moreover, we have known for years that there were no WMDs in Iraq, Saddam Hussein is long dead, and no terrorists are using Iraq as a sanctuary from which to attack America. The future of Iraq must be returned to the Iraqi people," says Barr.

"More fundamentally, we must put defense back into our defense policy," Barr adds. "No more subsidizing the defense of wealthy allies, no more nation-building in failed societies. Neither John McCain nor Barack Obama seems to understand that the primary responsibility of the federal government is to protect the American people. Sen. McCain jokes about bombing other countries, while Sen. Obama speaks about being a citizen of the world. War should always be a last resort to protect America, not the beginning of a crusade for other countries or peoples."

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