Tom Tancredo: “the approaching vote on this resolution has caused me and I am sure many of my colleagues to give serious and…”

“the approaching vote on this resolution has caused me and I am sure many of my colleagues to give serious and considerable thought to the most difficult issue that faces America today. Like many of my friends on both sides of the aisle, and like many Americans I am opposed to increasing our troop presence in Iraq. I am sure we have all asked ourselves individually what we would do if we were in the oval office at this time. If I were in the oval office, if I were Commander in Chief, I would tell the Iraqis something similar to what Benjamin Franklin told a woman who asked him as he came out of the negotiations on the Continental Congress, Dr. Franklin, what have you given us? He answered, a Republic if you can keep it. Mr. Speaker, I believe we have with our blood and treasure already won a great victory when we deposed a dictator and helped the Iraqis set up a fledgling democracy. Frankly, I believe it is up to them to keep it. Mr. Speaker, the fall of Saddam has helped create a situation in the Middle East that we did not anticipate but one that can be exploited. I believe that the ethnic and sectarian earthquake inside and across the broader Middle East is underway. I believe the fault lines in this conflict can be seen moving today, not just in Iraq, but in Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere. If I were Commander in Chief, I would do what I could to exploit the situation.”