[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 14 (Thursday, February 10, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H575-H576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE SITUATION IN IRAQ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my 
concern over our Nation's involvement in the war in Iraq. I would have 
hoped that the recent Iraq elections would quell my concern, but the 
fact is that I had grave concerns before we engaged in this war, I have 
had grave concerns during the unfolding of this war and today I still 
have serious concerns over this administration's ability to provide a 
positive outcome in Iraq. This President must be held accountable to 
this Congress and more importantly to the people of the United States. 
He must provide a success strategy and a vision for what comes next in 
Iraq and how and when our brave troops will be able to come home. We 
owe this public statement to the more than 1,400 troops that have died 
and those tragically that may lose their lives in the future.
  The President indicated during his State of the Union that one of our 
responsibilities to future generations is to ``leave them an America 
that is safe from danger, and protected peace.'' However, absent an 
articulated success for exit plan by our troops, the very existence of 
that future generation is in jeopardy. This war has certainly created 
more terrorists than it has eliminated. In addition, our troops are now 
returning home in worse condition than before they left. Too many of 
our men and women have suffered life changing injuries in Iraq and now 
must come home to live the rest of their lives. Troops are being asked 
to stay in Iraq longer than they had ever committed for and all of this 
takes a toll on their families. In the end this war will not be the 
legacy of this administration or of this Congress, but instead will be 
the legacy of our young troops who will have to face the rest of their 
lives based on the consequences of this war. Their bloodshed demands a 
reasonable success and exit plan.
  My distinguished colleague, Ms. Woolsey, has introduced legislation 
that calls on the President to develop and implement a plan to bring 
our troops home and provide the Iraqis the opportunity to control their 
own stable nation. The administration will surely respond that they are 
committed to a free Iraq and the

[[Page H576]]

truth is that we all are committed to that ideal, but this 
administration seems incapable of providing clarity on its plans in 
this war.
  From the very beginning we have been left in the dark as to what this 
administration was planning in regards to Iraq. Our troops and their 
families have been the ones to suffer and the fact is that the Iraqis 
have yet to see a free and stable nation. Yes, the recent elections 
were positive outcome, but they are far far from resolving the 
predicament in Iraq. I support my colleague's legislation and I urge 
all Members of this body to support it. How can we possibly be against 
legislation that calls upon the President to notify Congress and the 
American people about the future plans for the war in Iraq.
  In formulating a success and exit plan, we must take additional steps 
to improve Iraq's economic and political stability. We must change our 
military focus from combat operations to training the Iraqi army. 
Moreover, we must intensify our reconstruction efforts with projects 
that give the Iraqi people real, tangible hope for their future.
  The fact remains that American troops have remained in Iraq for 2 
years, and the death toll continues to rise; therefore, we must proceed 
with caution. The positive momentum that has come from a successful 
election must be used as an opportunity to stop the bloodshed and the 
expenditure of tax dollars on this effort. I hope that the 
administration will use the positive momentum of this achievement as an 
opportunity to devise an success and exit plan for our troops as 
outlined by Representative Woolsey's legislation.

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