Political Quotes

“I would like to read to the Members from excerpts from an op-ed that the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) and I published in ``USA Today.'' ``The military occupation of Iraq will not turn Iraq into a democratic nation. Longstanding rivalries will do more to shape that country's future. Those forces will not be controlled by American boots on the ground no matter how many we put there or how long they remain. ``In Iraq there are no front lines, no easy way to tell friend from foe, no clear way to measure success. Iraq is a quagmire. It has become a recruiting post for Osama bin Laden. Are we to keep fighting indefinitely, losing more troops every week, spending billions of dollars, and increasing the strain on our Armed Forces, especially the Reserve and the National Guard? ``Iraq has already added $200 billion to our national debt and costs U.S. taxpayers more than $1 billion per month. It jeopardizes the strategic interests of the United States. It alienates allies in the Muslim world, and it is hindering efforts to create a united global front against al Qaeda. ``Unlike World War II, where the enemy surrendered and the troops came home, there is no such prospect in Iraq. We must define an endpoint. We will soon introduce legislation to achieve that goal by bringing the occupation of Iraq to a close. The troops have done their jobs. It is up to Congress and the President to forge a policy worthy of their sacrifices.'' ____________________”