Chuck Schumer: “I rise today to discuss Iraq, as I have every day this week that we have been here. First, I know we all have the…”

“I rise today to discuss Iraq, as I have every day this week that we have been here. First, I know we all have the deepest gratitude and respect for the sacrifice of the brave men and women serving our country so valiantly in Iraq. Make no mistake about it, the troops are doing their job. I am concerned, however, that their mission is not worthy of their great sacrifice, especially the President's surge. The surge, despite earlier reports this week, has failed to meet the objectives set out by the President. And the President can't change that fact by changing the goal. He is now claiming progress in Iraq as evidence that the surge--directed at Baghdad--is working. While the President has claimed progress in Anbar, it was not the surge that brought the momentary calm to this region, because the surge was focused mainly on Baghdad, and the difficult process of political reconciliation. Its objective, as stated by the President himself, was to create breathing room for the central Iraqi Government to make political progress. Our brave troops have been in Anbar for years and years, doing the first-rate job they always do in what is a very difficult environment. Now, however, some elements of the local population, and some of their leaders, have made common cause with the brave men and women of our military. They have cooperated with our troops out of distaste for the brutal methods of al-Qaida.”