Date: 2005-11-18
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. we went to force. It requires a diplomatic and political sowar in Iraq in an irresponsible way. we should lution. Any resolution must address the Sunni leave Iraq in a responsible way. fears that are feeding much of the violence. At The Administrations slogan of "stay the the same time. any resolution must recognize course" is not a strategy. More of the same is the facts on the groundthe Kurds will never unacceptable. We must change course. The again allow themselves to be victimized by aBush Administration has tried to stifle debate. central government in Bagdhad and the Shia. here at home by shamelessly challenging the by virtud of their majority status. will never patriotism of those who question their ap- again allow -themselves to be dominated by proach. The time has come for a serious de- others. bate on this issue of utmost importance to the The Bush Administrations efforts to achiev6 American people. We should bring our troops a political solution have been grossly inadhome as quickly and safely as possible. But equate. However. the prospects for a political bringing our troops home is only part of a suc- and diplomatic resolution are less likely in the cessful strategy for leaving Iraq. We must re- face of a total immediate withdrawal of U.S. deploy our troops in a way that does not un- forces from Iraq. The more likely result would leash even more bloodshed and killing in Iraq. be a surge in killings of innocent Iraqis as difand does not create a vacuum that will be ex- ferent groups compete for power in the vacuploited by Al Queda and terrorist elements. um left by the immediate and total departure Our nation went to war in Iraq based on of American forces. That bloodshed would be false information and gross distortions of the a great stain on our nation and a terrible blow facts made by President Bush and others in to our already shattered credibility. Moreover. his Administration. Before the invasion. a num- just as the precipitous U.S. disengagement ber of us gave speeches on the floor of this from Afghanistan following the Soviet withHouse outlining the dangers of going to war in drawal from that country opened the door to Iraq. The Bush Administration and the Con- the Taliban regime. the immediate and total gress chose to disregard the warnings that withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraqwithout a were raised by many people who had experi- political plan in placewould most benefit exence on foreign policy issues regarding the tremist and terrorist groups. Persian Gulf region. Our strategy for leaving Iraq must also recWe have made many mistakes during the ognize that Iraqs neighborsIran. Turkey and war. but many of the results of our invasion Syriaall have strong interests in the future of were predictable. As I said on this floor prior Iraq. Our plan must ensure that the United Nato the war: tions and the international community will work "The President has presented a utopian vi- to prevent others from exploiting the situation sion of democracy breaking out in the Middle in Iraq at the expense of the Iraqi peopleand East after we invade Iraq. It is just as easy to the security of the region and the United imagine a scenario where difficulties in Iraq States. and the American action therefuel resentment The Senate Democrats. under the leadertoward occupying American troops and in- ship of Senators HARRY REID and CARL LEVIN flame the region against us. strengthening the have proposed a path for bringing our troops hands of radical Islamic fundamentalists and home in an orderly way that minimizes the making it more difficult to promote democracy likelihood of an outbreak of a full scale civil and other U.S. goals in the region." war in Iraq. Now. more than two and half years after the In the aftermath of the terrible attacks of invasion of Iraq. those predictions have unfor- September 11. 2001. the world rallied to our tunately proved true. The Administration utteriy side. The international community supported failed to understand the dynamics and history our decision to go into Afghanistan to root out of Iraq. They failed to understand the opening Al Queda. The Bush Administration squanthat Sunni grievances and old rivalries would dered that international good will. Instead. it give to our enemies. to Al Queda and others. began a war of choice against Iraq. As many The Administration built its actions on a foun- predicted before the invasion. that war has dation of sandon rosy scenarios and wishful fueled the ranks of Al Queda and strengththinking. We never had a plan to deal with the ened the jihadists. We must not compound the forces we were unleashing. in Iraq and we are blunders of the Bush Administration by credealing with the consequences now. There ating the conditions for even more bloodshed have been over 2.079 confirmed American in Iraq and allowing it to become a haven and deaths in Iraq. Over 15.500 have been seri- launching pad for terrorist activities. ously injured. There have been reports of at This Congress has not had a serious debate least 30.000 Iraqi civilian deaths. on Iraq. Instead. the Republican leadership in . Having invaded Iraq. the United States has this House has worked to hide from the Amera moral. and national security obligation to do ican people the gross incompetence of the everything possible to prevent the situation Bush Administrations policies on Iraq. The from spiraling even farther out of control. We time is long overdue. for us to have a serious must devise a plan.to leave Iraq in a way that discussion on this issue of the greatest importance to the American people. Our troops and their families deserve no less.