[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 34 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE FIRST STEP TO REDEPLOYMENT ACT OF 2006

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 16, 2006

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, our security depends on the President 
changing the course in Iraq. Last November, I released a plan to do 
just this by carrying out a phased redeployment of U.S. troops starting 
with bringing the National Guard home and refocusing our political, 
diplomatic and reconstruction efforts. Today, having received a good 
deal of support for my plan, I am introducing the First Step to 
Redeployment Act of 2006 which would put my plan into practice by 
beginning the redeployment of U.S. armed forces from Iraq. This 
legislation will begin the redeployment of our troops with the National 
Guard because they also have an important role here at home, fighting 
forest fires, providing hurricane relief, and keeping our country safe.
  Our challenge now is to learn from our mistakes in Iraq and make the 
appropriate adjustments to our strategy. However, the Iraq conflict is 
only the beginning of our challenge. We face very real strategic 
threats from North Korea to Iran and we need thoughtful, moral, and 
honest efforts to deal with them.

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