Lynn C. Woolsey: “there will be a great debate in Congress in the coming days about the administration's escalation strategy in Iraq. The…”

“there will be a great debate in Congress in the coming days about the administration's escalation strategy in Iraq. The administration has been trying during this time to influence that debate by launching a saturation public relations campaign designed to convince us that the escalation is working. Before the debate in Congress begins, however, it is really important for every Member of this House to know the facts; and the truth is the escalation is not working. It is failing. Here are the facts: First, this summer has been the bloodiest summer of the occupation for American troops since the occupation began. Between June and August, 261 of our brave troops died. Over the same three months last year, 169 died. That is too many, absolutely; but it is a 54 percent increase this year over last year. Second, the escalation has been deadly for U.S. troops ever since it began: 654 U.S. troops were killed between February, when the escalation began, and this August. That is 63 percent more than over the same period last year. Third, the escalation has been a disaster for the Iraqi people. Over 5,000 more Iraqi civilians were killed between the start of the escalation in February and this August than died over the same period last year; and according to news reports, the number of internally displaced Iraqis has more than doubled since the escalation began, from 500,000 to 1.1 million refugees.”