Sylvester Turner: “I returned from Iraq last night, and every American can be very proud of the work that our men and women in uniform are…”

“I returned from Iraq last night, and every American can be very proud of the work that our men and women in uniform are doing there for our country. The sacrifice they are making and the danger they face demand that we provide them with the best in equipment, supplies, and quality of life that we possibly can as they continue the effort to bring stability to Iraq. I commend our ranking member, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), for the efforts he has made to move more of the $87 billion to protect our troops. Irrespective of one's views about the wisdom of preemptive action against Saddam Hussein and concerns about the intelligence analysis upon which that action was based, we are now confronted as a Nation with a challenge and a responsibility where failure is not an option. The future of Iraq and the success there will depend upon the willingness that we have to stay the course. This will require sacrifice on the part of the American people, and I commend the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) for calling upon the top 1 percent of Americans measured by income to share in the sacrifice being made by our troops in Iraq. The future stability of the region demands stability in Iraq. I found the Iraqi people to be capable, intelligent, and determined to provide a better way of life for their people.”