Date: 2006-06-15
Speaker: ZOE LOFGREN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to the resolution. Mr. Speaker. When we made the decision to invade Iraq I said this: The President is asking us to pass this resolution now. but he has not yet made the case for war. I cannot support the Presidents request that we authorize military force against Iraq. I make this very difficult decision for three important reasons: The United States is not acting in selfdefense or from an imminent threat from Iraq. the United States should not be pursuing unilateral action without international support. and the President has not stated an exit strategy. I believe there are times when countries must resort to war. and indeed international law recognizes the rights of nations to defend themselves. I strongly support our campaign against terrorism. But are we voting this week on a base of selfdefense? It would certainly be selfdefense if Iraq supported the al Qaeda attack on September 11. but the evidence of such support is lacking. I have listened to the administration and met with top officials. I have yet to see any credible evidence that Iraq is connected with al Qaeda. The experts readily admit that there is no real connection. I can believe that Iraq is a threat to the region and to some American interests overseas. but I do not believe the threat is imminent or must be handled with a unilateral military strike. This resolution is an unwise step for America that will in the end weaken America. How unsatisfactory are the words "I told you so". We invaded Iraq even though it was not involved with al Queda and. when we diverted our gaze from the War on Terror. we let Osama Bin Laden get away and now his organization has metastasized so that his capture would no longer be the disruptive blow to al Queda that it could have been then. Our soldiers have served bravely but their courage has not been matched by adequate leadership by the brass starting with the Commander in Chief. The problems that face us now in Iraq are not primarily military ones but we are expecting our military to accomplish them anyway. This entire venture was a mistake. but the question is what do we do now? I think the answer is that its time for the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own country. Our American soldiers signed up to defend America. Let the Iraqis do the same for their country. We have spent American lives and treasure in Iraq. It is now the obligation of the Commander in Chief to present a strategy for a successful completion -of American activities there so that our troops can be rerioved from Iraq as soon as is practicable. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. It is time for leadership from the Commander in Chief that is more than "stay the course" and more of the same. The war in Iraq is not the war on terror and never has.been. I voted to authorize the use of force in Afghanistan because it was necessary that we disrupt that terrorist hotbed that had helped breed the terrorists who attacked us on September 11th. Now even that necessary endeavor in Afghanistan is faltering because of the diversion into Iraq. If we are to win the war on terror. we must focus our efforts on the terrorists and not on Iraq. We are spending $8 billion or more a month in Iraq and need to utilize those funds instead effectively in the fight against terrorists and also to protect the United States from the potential of terrorist attacks. We have other threats around the world and have. tragically. damaged our military readiness to face them through our miscalculations in Iraq. To maintain the strong military might that America needs we need to bring the Iraq misadventure to an end as soon as is practical.