Cord Byrd: “It was 122 degrees in Baghdad today. The Iraqi Parliament thinks it is too hot to work and has gone on vacation. Our…”

“It was 122 degrees in Baghdad today. The Iraqi Parliament thinks it is too hot to work and has gone on vacation. Our soldiers don't have that luxury. Our brave men and women continue to patrol the hot streets of Baghdad in full battle gear. They will get no vacation. They continue to risk their lives in the sand and in the heat, supposedly to give the Iraqi politicians 'breathing room' to build a political consensus. Those politicians are now on vacation. A majority of Iraqis now say that we are doing more harm than good by staying in their country. Perhaps I should say that again. A majority of Iraqis now say that we are doing more harm than good by staying in their country. Every day brings more terrible news of American casualties. What has the response from this administration been? 'Wait. Wait. Give us more time.' Our President has been saying that for the last 4 years, and it is clear that he will keep on saying it for as long as we keep on accepting it. So I am angry. This is my 49th year in the Senate. I believe it is the first time I have said that. I am angry. Every Member of this body should be angry, angry that the Iraqi Government is on vacation while our troops, American troops, U.S. troops--your troops, my troops, our troops--fight and die in their civil war. Everyone, including General Petraeus, agrees that there is no military solution in Iraq. None.”