John Drake: “it is my honor to be here tonight, along with fellow colleagues and with the chairman of the House Armed Services…”

“it is my honor to be here tonight, along with fellow colleagues and with the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Duncan Hunter, to talk to you about the war in Iraq. During my recent visit to Iraq, it was clear to me that our brave military men and women know what they are doing, why they are doing it, the progress they are making, and the threat to our world and our way of life if they fail. They see the big picture: Iraq is a key piece in a region-wide and worldwide struggle. What they wanted to know was what were the American people saying and thinking, and they wanted to know why their stories are not being told, and why their successes are not being told. Mr. Speaker, recently there was a New York Times article that included this quote. It says: ``I kind of predicted this. A third time just seems like I am pushing my chances.'' But in reality, Mr. Speaker, that was a much longer quote that I would like for you to see and I would like for you to hear. What that quote said was: ``Obviously, if you're reading this, then I have died in Iraq. I kind of predicted this. That is why I am writing this in November. A third time just seemed like I am pushing my chances. I don't regret going. Everybody dies, but few get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we are in Iraq. It's not to me.…”