Democratic Statement on Dubba Speech

[Monkeyman]

Washington DC Speaker Nacy Pelosi , Majority Leader Reid

Last Novermber , the American people delivered a strong message of no confidence in the President's Iraq policy and clearly expressed their desire for a new direction. The President had an opportunity tonight to demonstate that he understood the depth of the concern in the country, make a long overdue course correction , and articulate a clear mission for our engagement in Iraq. Instead , he chose to escalate our involvement in Iraq's civil was by proposing a substantial increase in the number of our forces there. This proposal endangers our national security by placing additional burdens on our already over extended military thereby making it even more difficult to respond to other crises.

While we all want to see a stable and peaceful Iraq, many current and former military leaders have made clear that sending more American combat troops does not advance that goal. Our troops have performed the difficult missions given to them in Iraq with great courage. The Congress and the American people will continue to support them and provide them every resource they need. But our Military forces deserve a policy commensurate with the sacrifices they have been asked to make. Regrettably , the President has not provided that tonight.

Rather than escalating our involement in Iraq by sending additional troops, we believe that a plan for the way forward in Iraq requires these elements

The Rest of this will be posted on http://speaker.house.gov in a few minutes

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. All right!

Loved the way she talked about the troops-their courage and sacrifice, that we wouldn't let them down. Seems to me the best way to support the troops is to bring them home.

[uppityperson]

2. thank you Speaker Pelosi and fu mrbush

[Monkeyman]

3. Last part that means something

In the days ahead, Congress will exercise its Constitutional responsibilities by giving the President las test proposal the scrutiny our troops and The American people expect. We will demand answers to the tough questions that have not been asked or answered to date. The American people want a change of course in Iraq. We intend to keep pressing President Bush to provide it.

[rep the dems]

4. Let's not forget Senator Dick Durbin.

After Bush's speech, I needed reassurance that the Democrats weren't going to just stand by and let the fucker do what he wants. Thank you, Senator, you are a true patriot.

[MH1]

5. Also Senator Kerry, on NPR and ABC.

Sounding totally disgusted with Bush's "plan".

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass) said today that he strongly opposes the Bush administration’s plan for expanding the US troop presence in Iraq and urged the president to redouble his effort to find a political and international solution to the worsening civil war in Iraq. Kerry said there was little support in Congress for expanding the war in Iraq and said the president must ask lawmakers to vote on a new authorization of the war if he wants to expand the mission beyond the current one.

“This plan is neither new nor forward looking. This is more of what’s taken us backwards. There’s no military solution in Iraq. There is only a political solution, and the President has no plan to achieve it. We’re caught in a civil war in Iraq. Escalation is not the answer. The best answer is to set a deadline to bring our heroes home, force Iraqis to stand up for Iraq, and get Iraq’s neighbors to start taking more responsibility for Iraq’s security.”