Paul Ryan: “our military men and women are doing a tremendous job in Iraq, as they work with Iraqis to secure their country and…”

“our military men and women are doing a tremendous job in Iraq, as they work with Iraqis to secure their country and combat the terrorists who want so desperately to prevent freedom from taking root there. Our troops deserve to hear messages of strong support and thanks from us--not calls for withdrawal that merely give hope to the enemy. Given a chance, the Iraqi military and political system will become strong enough to defend the Iraqi people on its own. But pulling our troops out now would undermine this goal and provide an opening for al Qaeda and its terrorist brethren. I disagree wholeheartedly with those who claim our presence there is counterproductive and those who argue that it would be best to bring America's troops home before their mission is completed. Iraq and its people have made great strides, most recently with their free vote on a constitution. But all their progress and our troops' blood and sweat will be for nothing if our forces withdrawal before Iraq's own forces are ready to defend the country. All of us want to see our soldiers come home, but it would be a huge mistake to make their withdrawal based on an arbitrary date, rather than conditions-based. So many of our servicemen and women have sacrificed so much to ensure that Iraq does not become a haven for terrorists, and we have to make sure that mission is accomplished and that their sacrifice has not been in vain.…”