Anna Eshoo: “Mr. Speaker, we are just about a year to the day that America with our very brave forces invaded Iraq. So it is coming…”

“Mr. Speaker, we are just about a year to the day that America with our very brave forces invaded Iraq. So it is coming up to the moment where we commemorate those that serve, those that did serve and lost their lives, through a resolution that is on the floor. This resolution has good parts to it. Of course, we commend our troops who are second to none. They are the best led, the best equipped, and the best performing troops in the world, the best military. But this resolution is not necessarily a celebration, nor should it be. Because what it does not include are the sacrifices that have been made: 558 American troops, 101 allied troops, and some 10,000 Iraqi citizens have died since this war began. They are not mentioned in this resolution. Where is our commitment in this resolution? It should be stated and restated in more than one 'whereas' about the 115,000 troops in Iraq with all the protective gear that they should have. Nowhere in this resolution do we affirm or reaffirm our commitment to our troops and veterans. Today the House Committee on the Budget cut over $1 billion. So there is a bit of double speak to this. Nowhere in this resolution are the people that serve in our intelligence community, some of the most dangerous jobs that anyone could ever have, are they set apart and thanked in this resolution relative to Iraq.”