Alcee Hastings: “Mr. Speaker, I have appended to this podium the faces of 90 people who never should have lost their lives in this war.…”

“Mr. Speaker, I have appended to this podium the faces of 90 people who never should have lost their lives in this war. Mr. Speaker, when I voted against using troops in Iraq more than 4 years ago, I believed then, and still believe today, that this was not a war of necessity, but rather for the Bush administration a war of choice and convenience. As we have learned since that vote, the concern that I and others had was, indeed, justified. Today's vote is not a vote on supporting our troops. After all, there is no choice when it comes to supporting our military. We all stand by them, Republicans and Democrats alike, especially when they are in harm's way. But should we send our troops into battle without proper body armor? For over 4 years the Bush administration has said 'yes.' Democrats have said 'no.' Should we force our troops into second and third and fourth tours of duties with shortened times in between those tours? The Bush administration continues to say 'yes.' Democrats say 'no.' Should we welcome home our troops with inhumane conditions at our VA hospitals around this Nation, not just at Walter Reed, and a shortchanged veterans health care system? The Bush administration says 'yes.' Democrats say 'no.' Should we stay the course of rhetorical arguments filled with fear and deception, like I have heard here today?”