Charles Skelton: “it goes without saying how proud I am of those young men and women in uniform. I know every Member in this body joins me…”

“it goes without saying how proud I am of those young men and women in uniform. I know every Member in this body joins me in saying how pleased and proud we are of them. A sad moment earlier today was when it was announced that 2,500 had given their lives in Iraq. But what concerns me, Mr. Speaker, more than anything is the request that we made for discussion on Iraq and this resolution that before us today was the result. Trying to blend and fudge together the war in Iraq, which is separate and distinct from the war on terrorism, is disingenuous. Mr. Schiff, the gentleman from California, a moment ago, referred to an amendment by Senator Warner, Armed Services chairman in the Senate. That amendment stayed in the law last year. This is what we should be discussing today about Iraq, as we were told we would. Calendar year 2006 should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq, thereby creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of the United States forces from Iraq. That is where we should be today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”