Joe Pitts: “A recent poll showed that two out of three residents in Baghdad believe that they are better off today than they were…”

“A recent poll showed that two out of three residents in Baghdad believe that they are better off today than they were under Saddam Hussein. Less than 15 percent would rather live under repression. We are starting to hear more and more stories of Iraqis pointing us in the right direction in Iraq. A tip from an Iraqi led to a discovery of a priceless mask, thousands of years old. Another tip led to a buried cache of weapons. We do not hear much about these successes in the media, but Iraqi public opinion is with us. This week, Congress will begin consideration of the Iraq supplemental. As we move forward, we should encourage Iraqis to step forward and take control of their own country. But we should not, as some in this body suggest, turn over full control of that country before democracy has taken root, before we can ensure that a new Iraq will not become a haven for terrorists and Saddam's murderous followers. Iraq's future and our safety hang in the balance.”