[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 156 (Wednesday, December 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE THAT DEPLOYMENT OF FORCES IN IRAQ BE 
                         TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 18, 2005

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I have great respect for the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania who speaks with authority about the military matters of 
the United States.
  Jack Murtha won the American Spirit Honor Medal, received the Bronze 
Star with Combat ``V'', two Purple Hearts, the Vietnamese Cross of 
Gallantry, and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
  The issues he raised yesterday are profound issues for each and every 
American. We honor the fallen soldiers by making an honest assessment 
of our national security needs. We honor our great democracy by having 
the national conversation about the war in Iraq--but we dishonor 
democracy by mischaracterizing what Jack Murtha said--and putting 
forward a resolution that does not reflect what he asks . . . and 
stifles real debate on this important issue.
  Nobody here really believes the United States should--tomorrow--
withdraw all troops from Iraq. But many of us--indeed many Americans--
are unhappy with the direction of the war and believe we could have 
done it better from the beginning.
  This is a serious resolution for us to consider; it should not be a 
political ploy for the leadership to mischaracterize. This is a serious 
debate that the Congress is not inclined to have--as evidenced by the 
late scheduling of a mischaracterized bill.
  We should be holding hearings about this . . . and we should not be 
debating any of this on a Friday night when people don't watch the 
news, we should do it next week and give it 50 hours of debate. What is 
more important than a debate about our national defense and the 
security of our troops?
  It is instructive to remember that we sent our troops to battle in 
Iraq ill prepared for what they would encounter. We did not send them 
with the tools--or in the numbers--they needed to win the war. We sent 
them with helicopters and rifles that didn't function properly . . . we 
sent them without the body armor they needed . . . we sent them in 
humvees without the armor they needed. They were not greeted as 
liberators--more faulty intelligence--they were greeted with improvised 
explosive devises . . . and lED attacks have only grown more 
sophisticated and more frequent on our troops.
  Here's where we are right now: when you make a wrong turn and 
discover that, do you stay on that road because you don't want to admit 
you are wrong? Or do you find an exit, get off and find your way? By 
staying in Iraq after our invasion based on faulty intelligence--we are 
doing irreparable damage to our international friends: Israel, Jordan, 
Lebanon, Pakistan, Kuwait . . . and the list goes on.
  We need to do it right . . . or leave as Jack Murtha suggests . . . 
1. redeploy U.S. troops consistent with the safety of the U.S. forces; 
2. create a quick reaction force in the region; 3. create an over-the-
horizon presence of Marines in the region; and 4. to diplomatically 
pursue security and stability in Iraq.
  I will vote ``no'' for the fabricated resolution before the House 
tonight . . . but I urge the House to follow the advice--the actual 
advice--of Jack Murtha.

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