C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger: “I will support this resolution as an expression of our Nation's gratitude and pride of our men and women in uniform who…”

“I will support this resolution as an expression of our Nation's gratitude and pride of our men and women in uniform who were ordered to war in Iraq by their Commander in Chief. Whether you are for or against the war, the fact is we are there now and we need to support our troops. These military servicemembers are working around the clock to make Iraq a better place for the Iraqi people. Many of them have left their young families behind to serve their country, and they deserve our thanks here on the floor of Congress. I recently returned from Iraq as part of a bipartisan group of Members from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. I truly believe that good intelligence is the best way to prevent terrorist attacks in our country, as well as Iraq. The members of our intelligence community who are also working on the dangerous front lines of this war deserve our gratitude. They serve in silence with little thanks. I was proud to join with my Republican colleagues and visit the Iraqi police training academy and honor 23 Iraqi police officers killed in a recent bombing. Even in the face of tragedy, the resolve of the Iraqi people to take back their country and start governing themselves was strong.”