Chris Chocola: “I met a young woman who is a private in the Marines. I asked her, as we were having dinner with several other soldiers…”

“I met a young woman who is a private in the Marines. I asked her, as we were having dinner with several other soldiers, what would you like me to tell people when I go back home? And she said what I want the people at home to understand is that I am here in harm's way. I am here because I want to protect my family at home and my country at home. She went on to explain that if we are successful in this effort, Iraq will become a free, democratic, prosperous society that will be a model for the Middle East; and it will have ripple effects of stability and peace and security not only through the Middle East but all over the world. And she said if we do not succeed, Iraq will become the home of terrorists and radical Islamists and jihadists that will export hate, murder, and violence all over the world. So, Mr. Chairman, this is an issue that is much bigger than $87 billion; it is much bigger than the people of Iraq. It is about the future of the Middle East; it is about the future of our globe and having the opportunity to bring much stronger stability all over the world, which will protect every single American at home.”