Lynn C. Woolsey: “I would like to thank Mr. Larson and Iraq Watch for what you have been doing to bring attention to the follies of what…”

“I would like to thank Mr. Larson and Iraq Watch for what you have been doing to bring attention to the follies of what is going on in Iraq. I will stay here and talk back and forth, but we have folks here who have been so important, Maxine Waters and Donald Payne and I saw Bill Delahunt, who are all part of this, and we want everybody to have their say. What I want to emphasize is that the people of this country, the people of this world know that this was a mistake. Our very own constituents are ahead of the Members of Congress that they have elected to serve them because they know we should leave Iraq. They tell us that. What they don't know, however, is how to make it happen. Guess what, that is not their job. It is our job. It is our job to say, Mr. President, commander in chief, stop this war. Put together a plan and bring our troops home. You see, that is our job. It is very clear to me when you lead, people will follow. Just under 2 years ago I believe I was the first person to request of the President that he bring our troops home. My request had just under 20 signatures on a letter to him. Then we had a hearing, informal hearing with Senator Max Cleland and generals and an Iraqi citizen. It was bipartisan and the room was full. We had a little bit of press, not much, but it was a good hearing. It was about why we are there and why we shouldn't be there. Following that we had an amendment of mine that came to the House floor.…”