Bob Menendez: “let me be clear from the very beginning. Democrats are strong supporters of our Nation's Armed Forces, of the men and…”

“let me be clear from the very beginning. Democrats are strong supporters of our Nation's Armed Forces, of the men and women, the sons and daughters, who defend our freedom and protect our interests while in harm's way. Therefore, as Members of Congress, it is our duty, our moral obligation and our responsibility to the American people and to those very troops to ensure that our country has a success strategy for Iraq so that we can eventually bring our troops home. However, I am not referring to a hard and fast timetable or date certain that our troops have to be withdrawn by. But, unfortunately, the bill we have before us today, as amended, fails the American people because it does not clearly define the benchmarks for that success strategy. Unless we adopt this motion to recommit, we have no defined goals, no defined measurable standards, and no strategy for success in Iraq. Without a clearly defined strategy for success in Iraq, this administration has no accountability to the Congress, our troops in Iraq, their families here at home, or the American people. Right now, this bill does not define what the American and Iraqi people should expect from our engagement in Iraq. If you do not know where you are going, how can you possibly know when you will get there? This administration possesses the information, the means and the wherewithal to produce a defined plan for success in Iraq, and has failed to do so.…”