William L. Clay: “as a member of the out of Iraq Caucus I rise in opposition to this resolution. We would not even be debating this bill…”

“as a member of the out of Iraq Caucus I rise in opposition to this resolution. We would not even be debating this bill if the American people were not disillusioned by this war and did not want to bring our troops home. I was among those who opposed the tragic decision to launch this war. I warned that the invasion and occupation of Iraq would plunge us into a bloody quagmire of violence that would only intensify the instability in the Middle East and leave this nation less secure and less able to protect our own national interests. The sad truth is that all the grimmest predictions have now come true and today-- The Taliban are mounting a major comeback in Afghanistan; Iran is on the verge of producing a nuclear weapon; Somalia is dominated by an al Queda-inspired militia; And, here at home, our Nation is at risk. The fundamental recommendations of the 911 Commission are still waiting. Those who still support the Iraq war often claim it has made this Nation a safer place. That it has kept away the terrorists and stopped another 911 tragedy. Unfortunately, such wishful thinking is only a way to justify the horrendous human suffering that we have caused by our misguided mission, an effort to justify a war that was never properly planned and executed and that has wounded thousands and cost the lives of two thousand five hundred American soldiers. The toll of this war is still climbing and throughout the world terrorism is on the rise.…”