Clock Running Out on Failed War in Iraq

WASHINGTON,DC – As General David H. Petraeus testifies before Congress on theprogress of the war in Iraq, Chief Deputy Whip Diana DeGette (D-CO)today made the following statement in favor of a new direction in Iraq.Eight months into the Bush Administration's surge, DeGette renewed herstrong support for troop withdrawal timelines and political benchmarksfor a quick and responsible end to the war saying "the clock is runningout on the President's failed war."

"General Petraeus'progress report confirms that President Bush's war strategy hasfailed," said DeGette. "While General Petraeus argues that progress hasbeen made in reducing sectarian violence, he concedes that both thehigh level of civilian casualties and high profile violence throughoutIraqi neighborhoods are still too high.

"Progress in Iraq isdangerously unbalanced. The Iraqi Government has squandered theopportunity to make significant political progress despite the heavylifting by the U.S. military. Two independent reports released lastweek found that the Bush Administration's escalation of troops hasfailed. Not only has the Iraqi Government not achieved the politicaland military progress necessary for success, but is far from ready totake over security responsibilities."

Last week, a GovernmentAccountability Office (GAO) Report found that the Iraqi Government hasmet only 3 of the 18 Congressionally mandated political and militarybenchmarks. Also, the Jones Report [Independent Commission on theSecurity Forces of Iraq] concluded that the Iraqi Government is stillfar from being able to take over security responsibilities.

"Thisunbalanced progress report on the war combined with these twoindependent reports reaffirms my commitment to ending the war in Iraq.I cannot support any plan that weakens our commitment to timelines andbenchmarks intended to bring the war in Iraq to an end.

"Iwill continue to stand with the majority of Americans by stronglysupporting timelines and benchmarks to bring our troops home and endthis war quickly and responsibly."

A New York Times/CBS pollreleased today found that 64 percent of Americans indicated that a"timetable should be established for a 2008 withdrawal." Furthermore,the poll found an overwhelming majority of the American people – 63percent – said the "war was a mistake," and 59 percent indicated thewar in Iraq "was not worth the loss of American lives." Finally, 78percent of Americans believe the U.S. should withdraw some or all ofour troops from Iraq.

DeGette has consistently voted to endthe war in Iraq beginning with her opposition to giving President Bushthe original authorization to go to war in 2002.