Bill Pascrell: “one of President Bush's most used justification for the war in Iraq has been that it is central to winning the war on…”

“one of President Bush's most used justification for the war in Iraq has been that it is central to winning the war on terror, but the National Intelligence Estimate tells a completely different story. Al Qaeda has only gained strength since the United States invasion of Iraq in March of 2003, and al Qaeda has regenerated in Pakistan along its border with Afghanistan, a reality that may have something to do with the fact that the great majority of our troops and resources are fighting an ill-conceived war in Iraq instead of finishing the job we started in Afghanistan. The sad truth is that when our Nation undertook Operation Enduring Freedom after the horrific attacks of 9/11, we had al Qaeda on the run. We had them on the verge of being dismantled. President Bush decided to alter our mission at a critical time and send our brave men and women to Iraq that had nothing to do with 9/11, to fight a war that has been a detriment to the war on terror. President Bush had al Qaeda on the ropes. He threw them a life preserver. They were weak, and today they're stronger, according to the report. So to President Bush, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who want to stay the course, I simply ask why? Why would we want to continue a war that the American people want to end?”