Mark Udall: “like H.R. 2237, this bill has serious flaws. However, while I could not vote for H.R. 2237, which would have required…”

“like H.R. 2237, this bill has serious flaws. However, while I could not vote for H.R. 2237, which would have required rapid withdrawal of troops from Iraq, I will vote for this emergency supplemental appropriations bill. I could not support H.R. 2237 for two reasons: First, I do not support the idea of rigidly insisting on a date certain for withdrawing U.S. combat troops from Iraq. I remain convinced that we should steer clear of arbitrary public deadlines for military actions and focus instead on realistic diplomatic and political goals. Second, I am very troubled by the provision that would prohibit funding for troops described as being part of the ``surge.'' My concerns do not reflect support for the administration's strategy. On the contrary, I still think an open-ended escalation--and that is the reality behind the Administration talk about a ``surge''--is no substitute for what is really needed, which is a strategy for containing civil war and a wider regional war.”