John Shadegg: “America is fighting with a hand tied behind its back. We simply do not have enough troops in Iraq, and we need them now.…”

“America is fighting with a hand tied behind its back. We simply do not have enough troops in Iraq, and we need them now. We had just enough troops to control Samarra and secure ourselves, but not enough to bring lasting stability or security. Two things are to blame for our predicament. The first reason is that we did not have enough troops in Samarra; the second, because of a lack of troops, American military leaders, those on the ground, those engaged in this fight, are forced to make a choice between mission objectives and self-preservation. All too often that choice that they are forced into is protection of our troops, not mission objectives. Let me tell you how he concluded, because I think it is pertinent to this debate, where what we seek to do is to disapprove the surge of 20,000 troops. I believe that the safety of America depends on the outcome of the battle in the streets of Baghdad.”