C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger: “I thank my colleague Mr. Cooper for yielding this time to me. I just returned from my fourth visit to Iraq with Speaker…”

“I thank my colleague Mr. Cooper for yielding this time to me. I just returned from my fourth visit to Iraq with Speaker Hastert and two other Members of Congress, and after this recent trip, I am more convinced than ever that the time has come to change U.S. strategy in Iraq. The ultimate goal is to establish a free, open and democratic Iraqi government and bring our men and women in uniform home. I believe the best way to do this is to have the Iraqi security forces, specifically the Iraqi Army and military, take on responsibility of patrolling and securing their own country. I believe we must move American and coalition troops to the perimeter of the urban areas and let the Iraqi military patrol the streets of their cities. Since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, more than 2,400 American troops have been killed and more than 20,000 injured. The insurgents and al Qaeda are using IEDs, which are roadside bombs, and suicide bombers. We, at this point, have not been able to defend our military as we should because of these tactics. I believe a change in strategy in Iraq is now necessary. By moving our troops to the perimeter, it will accomplish numerous things. Number one, it will allow the Iraqi military to be less dependent on the American military and our other coalition forces.…”