Political Quotes

“I will shortly. Let me finish my statement because I think it is important to look at the issue that has been put on the floor. I will be very brief. Then we can do the parliamentary inquiries back and forth. If we withdraw from Iraq before the Iraqi Government and the Iraqi people are capable of defending their new democracy, I am absolutely convinced that the terrorists would see this as a vindication, a vindication of their strategy of intimidation, of confrontation, and that they would take that vindication and continue to challenge us elsewhere in the world--in Afghanistan, in other countries in the region, overseas, and, indeed, right here at home. If we were to cut and run, the violence in Iraq would certainly increase. We know there is violence there, and we know how tough it is on our troops who are there and the American people who watch this violence. But I am absolutely convinced that if we cut and run, violence will increase in Iraq, terrorists will increase their attacks on the Iraqi people and on that brandnew Iraqi Government. Clearly, it has only been 5 days. Clearly, the Government itself is not able, completely alone, to defend itself. Chaos would result. Bloody civil war would result. Terrorists and rival militia would tear the country apart. They would kill thousands of innocent Iraqis, and that terrorism would spread through that region, around the world, and, indeed, I believe right here at home.…”