Mike Levin: “I thank my dear friend from Virginia for his positive comments. As always, he seeks to build bridges and to overcome…”

“I thank my dear friend from Virginia for his positive comments. As always, he seeks to build bridges and to overcome differences and to reach across the aisle. It is typical of him, and it has been that way since the first day I met him many years ago. The Levin-Reid amendment--there are two amendments pending--is an effort to, indeed, try to improve the situation in Iraq, to try to change the course for the better. There is no date for withdrawal in our amendment. It is not saying that we will withdraw troops at any particular specific date. We have done that because we think it would be a mistake to set a specific date, at least most of us do. On the other hand, we believe it is essential that we change course in a number of directions in order to improve the chances of Iraq becoming a success. America is going to be less secure if Iraq is a failed state. Everybody agrees on that. The question is, How can we improve the chances of Iraq not becoming a failed state? What could we do here, carrying out our responsibility, what contribution can we make here to success in Iraq? Things are not working very well in Iraq in many ways. I know there are people who will point to progress in Iraq and, obviously, there are things to which one could point. But on the other hand, there are things that are not working well, and this amendment intends to address those in a constructive and positive way. Staying the course is not a strategy; that is a slogan.…”