Political Quotes

“This outlines the course we will embark on at this point in time. I urge my colleagues to read this letter in the context of our debate today. I thank my colleague. Exhibit 1--Response From the Chief of Staff Josh Bolten to a Democratic Letter September 5, 2006. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Senator Reid: Thank you for your September 4 letter to the President. I am responding on his behalf. A useful discussion of what we need to do in Iraq requires an accurate and fair-minded description of our current policy: As the President has explained, our goal is an Iraq that can govern itself, defend itself, and sustain itself. In order to achieve this goal, we are pursuing a strategy along three main tracks--political, economic, and security. Along each of these tracks, we are constantly adjusting our tactics to meet conditions on the ground. We have witnessed both successes and setbacks along the way, which is the story of every war that has been waged and won. Your letter recites four elements of a proposed ``new direction'' in Iraq. Three of those elements reflect well- established Administration policy; the fourth is dangerously misguided. First, you propose ``transitioning the U.S. mission in Iraq to counter-terrorism, training, logistics and force protection.'' That is what we are now doing, and have been doing for several years. Our efforts to train the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) have evolved and accelerated over the past three years.…”