On the recordDecember 14, 2011
Since the spring of 2004 I've stood here in this very spot 415 times to call for an end to foreign wars and the start of a new, smarter approach to national security. In most of those speeches my tone has been one of insistence and beseeching. Seldom have I been able to echo good news or declare a sense of accomplishment, but Mr. Speaker, today is different. As the President will reaffirm in a speech at Fort Bragg today--and it moves me almost beyond words to say this--the war in Iraq is finally over. After 105 excruciating months, after so much heartbreak and despair, after so many shameful episodes--such as the ``Mission Accomplished'' banner, Abu Ghraib, the outing of Valerie Plame, and so much more--our troops are finally coming home from Iraq, all of them. Much credit goes to President Obama for making good on his promise. When he was sworn into office, there were 142,000 U.S. servicemembers deployed to Iraq; by the time the calendar turns in 2012, there will be zero; zero. {time} 1050 But this day would not have come unless some very brave people had spoken up for peace at a time when the polls and the conventional wisdom said that President Bush and his Iraq policy were unassailable. I've been proud to work in particular with my friends, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, in establishing the Out of Iraq Caucus.…
