Richard Gephardt: “Congress today will vote on an issue of great importance to the Nation. This week, Congress will vote on the President's…”

“Congress today will vote on an issue of great importance to the Nation. This week, Congress will vote on the President's request for $86.7 billion in supplemental spending to fund ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the reconstruction effort in Iraq. Like many, I have grave concerns about this administration's failure to forward a plan on the reconstruction of Iraq that will lead to Iraqi self-rule, lessen the financial burden of the reconstruction effort on American taxpayers, and successfully conclude our military efforts in that nation. And I believe this failure has unnecessarily put our troops in harm's way and made our nation less secure. Yet while I have significant reservations about this administration's prosecution of the aftermath of the war in Iraq, I will support this request because I believe supporting our troops in the field and providing them with the necessary resources to successfully complete their mission is the right thing to do. While some may attempt to characterize my support for the supplemental legislation as an endorsement of the Administration's failed policy, nothing could be farther from the truth.”