A New Course in Iraq
America is a strong nation, and we are a strong people. We are not timid, nor should we be. We can handle the challenges, and we can handle the truth. Our government led America into war in Iraq through questionable intelligence and deceit. We need a more honest government, and new solutions that ensure stability, that face our best interests honestly in Iraq, and that return our troops home safely and responsibly.
I am very concerned about the war in Iraq. While there is no question that Saddam Hussein was an evil man, it is clear that the President, as commander in chief, was not honest about the evidence and did not plan before sending our troops into combat. As a result, for more than five years we have suffered from government misinformation, a poorly conceived invasion, a reckless lack of post-invasion plans, inadequately protected troops, and incompetent management. The government’s mismanagement has cost thousands of lives, weakened America in the rest of the world, and mortgaged our nation’s future.
The President, as commander in chief, has refused to acknowledge the truth and continues to disappoint the American people by refusing even to propose any plan for achieving success in Iraq and for returning our troops safely and responsibly.
We should not overlook or diminish the tireless efforts and sacrifices of our military, many on their third, fourth, or even fifth tours. Congress must honor their heroism by ensuring that the efforts and suffering of the Iraqi people and of our armed forces are serving a purpose that is worthy of their sacrifices and will lead to long term stability and democracy in the region. But America cannot continue in Iraq forever. We must demand a broad strategy, encompassing diplomatic, economic, legal and social assistance, to ensure that Iraq can take responsibility for its own self-governance. And we must establish clearly defined strategies, objectives, milestones, and most importantly, clear exit strategies for our military forces that are already over-strained.
