[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     WE MUST WORK TOWARD WINNING AND SUSTAINING PEACE IN IRAQ AND 
                              AFGHANISTAN

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                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 2003

  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, since President Bush 
declared an end to major combat operations on May 1, 2003, we continue 
to have loss of life of our brave service men and women in Iraq at a 
rate of one per day.
  Just look at the figures--491 wounded and 93 killed. We've lost 7 
soldiers in the last week alone.
  Why? Because the administration failed to adequately plan for post-
war peacekeeping in Iraq. And experts are beginning to warn that the 
window for postwar success is closing.
  We need to make a decision--and we need to do it quickly--about 
increasing the end strength of our military. Two days ago, the Pentagon 
announced that our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan should expect one-
year deployments.
  We are walking a very fine line on having enough troops to support 
our missions around the globe, especially Iraq and Afghanistan.
  Asking our troops to stay for longer and longer tours is not the 
answer. Our troops are stretched thin, and we must start talking about 
doing everything in our power to win and sustain the peace.

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