James Norton: “I do want to say that as we reach more than 700 Americans now killed in Iraq, more than were killed in the taking of…”

“I do want to say that as we reach more than 700 Americans now killed in Iraq, more than were killed in the taking of Iraq itself, we have the obligation to come to the floor as we have, even if the President did not fulfill his obligation to tell us what we need to know, because we have an obligation to ask the hard questions and to pose those questions for the American people. The largest question in my mind has to do with money. This President has said he will not come to the Congress for more money until January. Does something not seem strange about that date to you? As we are about to send more troops to Iraq, as we were told when the $87 billion was before us that this was all they would need, is it credible to say that we can go until January without any sense that there may be more money needed? Particularly since Members have gone to Iraq and told us that members in the service are wanting for equipment, the very equipment that could mean the difference between life and death.”