Stephanie Tubbs Jones: “today the administration released its ``Assessment Report'' on Iraq. While attempting to tout ``progress,'' it is plain…”

“today the administration released its ``Assessment Report'' on Iraq. While attempting to tout ``progress,'' it is plain to see that this is more of the same rhetoric that has become so commonplace in this administration. The sad truth is that since President Bush launched this war, more than 3,600 American service men and women have been killed in Iraq, more than 26,000 have been injured, and the American taxpayer has spent nearly half a trillion dollars on this war. The report highlights that the Iraqi government has not met a single one of the 18 security, political, and economic milestones that the Congress laid out as measurements for success. It also substantiates the fact that of the 18 benchmarks Congress laid out, Iraqis are making progress on only eight. The report also shows us that Iraqi security forces are not providing even-handed enforcement of the law and that Militia presence is still a prevalent force within the security services of a number of ministries. It is for this reason that I am in support of the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act.”