Edolphus Towns: “It is becoming clear day by day that the President's troop escalation plan is not in the best interest of this Nation.…”

“It is becoming clear day by day that the President's troop escalation plan is not in the best interest of this Nation. First, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the President's troop escalation plan would take substantially more troops and more money than the President has suggested. The President says 21,500 troops are needed; the CBO says 48,000 troops are necessary to conduct the mission. The President says it will cost about $5.6 billion, but CBO says that the number could be four times higher than that. Second, the administration's intelligence agencies concluded last week that violence would continue in Iraq for at least another 18 months, but the President says his plan will calm the violence in 6 months. And, third, Pentagon officials admitted last week that they do not have enough armored vehicles, armored kits and other equipment needed to protect these additional troops. Mr. Speaker, after hearing these three different facts, how can anyone believe the President's troop escalation plan is in the best interests of this country?”