James Oberstar: “the majority brings to the House floor today a resolution wrapped in a process that is offensive to the very essence of…”

“the majority brings to the House floor today a resolution wrapped in a process that is offensive to the very essence of democracy. This resolution provides a dictated take-it-or- leave-it vote without the opportunity for our side to offer amendments expressing differing views of the elections in Iraq and the U.S. presence there. The substance of this resolution has all the appearance and wording of a campaign slogan. While applauding the beginnings of democracy in Iraq, the majority has stifled democracy at home by denying Democrats the opportunity to offer our own resolution for consideration and an up-or-down vote on it. Certainly, Democrats and Republicans congratulate the Iraqi people who drafted and by vote ratified their own constitution, and who voted this week in defiance of radical elements who sought to deter the Iraqi people from voting. It is appropriate for the House to congratulate the Iraqi people on this step toward democratic governance, and we share the view that this election and the continued training of Iraq's security forces will make it possible for the United States to redeploy our troops and leave Iraqis in charge of their own destiny. That is as far as this House should go in expressing support for the Iraqi democratic process. However, this resolution goes further. It raises the strawman of ``achieving victory in Iraq'' and it is critical of ``setting an artificial timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.…”