[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H5744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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                         URGING CANDOR ON IRAQ

  (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, you cannot solve a problem if you do not 
acknowledge that you have a problem. In that light, I appreciate and 
applaud the comments of outgoing Under Secretary of Defense Doug Feith 
made to the Washington Post concerning the costly mistakes made in 
Iraq.
  During a recent interview, Mr. Feith said, ``It is an extremely 
complex judgment to know whether the course that we chose with its pros 
and cons was more sensible.''
  Further, he noted the transfer of power to Iraqis did not happen fast 
enough and that we were not able to train the Iraqis.
  Mr. Feith's comments stand in contrast to the President's inability 
and unwillingness to acknowledge any errors made in the Iraq war 
effort.
  The administration did a great job planning for a quick victory on 
the battlefield and for occupation, yet things have not turned out as 
planned. Some of today's challenges are a direct result of those 
mistakes made by the administration.
  After 1,800 American lives, more than 10,000 wounded American GIs and 
$340 billion with no end in sight, now is the time to level with the 
American people. If we are going to be successful, we must work 
together, and to work together, you must be frank and honest.
  Mr. Feith, thank you for your recent candor. Mr. President, we can do 
it. We are here to help, but it starts with truth and candor.

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