Patty Murray: “I am here to speak on the floor today because American lives, American security, and America's future are on the line in…”

“I am here to speak on the floor today because American lives, American security, and America's future are on the line in Iraq. The American people know it. They sent a clear message last November. The Iraq Study Group has told us. They gave us honest assessments and recommendations to move forward in Iraq. Generals have spoken out. General Casey told us in January: The longer we in the U.S. Forces continue to bear the main burden of Iraq's security, it lengthens the time that the government of Iraq has to make the hard decisions about reconciliation and dealing with the militias. General Abizaid told us in November: I do not believe that more American troops right now is the solution to the problem. Colin Powell has talked about it. He said: I am not persuaded that another surge of troops into Baghdad for the purpose of suppressing this communitarian violence, this civil war, will work. The numbers speak for themselves. More than 3,300 Americans have died in Iraq and nearly 25,000 have been wounded. A few days ago, 9 more U.S. soldiers were killed in a bombing, and 20 more U.S. troops and an Iraqi soldier were injured. Americans have heard the military experts, they have heard the Iraq Study Group, they have seen the sacrifice of our troops and their families, and now they are demanding a change in course. But, sadly, the President refuses to listen. He is ignoring the military experts, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, and the American people.”