Donald M. Payne: “over the past year, the Iraqi Government has made countless promises to the Bush administration, but they have yet to…”

“over the past year, the Iraqi Government has made countless promises to the Bush administration, but they have yet to live up to them. Military generals and experts have already concluded that there is no military solution to the civil war, and that the only way to cut down on violence there is through political and diplomatic channels. While President Bush addressed the Nation to announce his troop escalation plan, he promised America, and I quote, ``America will hold the Iraqi Government to the benchmarks it has announced.'' A newly released Pentagon report concludes that the Iraqi Government is still not living up to the promises it made last year. The Iraqi Prime Minister vowed to reform his government, beginning with his cabinet and his ministers, but the Pentagon report says that not one of these steps has been taken. It is time for Congress finally to hold the Iraqi Government accountable. If the Prime Minister is not committed to following through on his promises he made to our President, then it is only fair for us to reevaluate our commitment to them. The day of an open-ended war is over.”