[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 78 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION TO H. RES. 861--RESOLUTION ON THE WAR IN IRAQ

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 15, 2006

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, despite the crafty language in this 
resolution, there is no connection between 9/11 and Saddam Hussein. The 
Global War on Terror and the War in Iraq are not synonymous.
  The President has admitted this, yet the Republican Party in this 
House continues to support his failed policies in Iraq under the guise 
of fighting terror--consistently providing billions of off-budget 
funding, allowing waste, fraud and abuse to go unchecked and failing to 
exercise even the semblance of oversight. So, instead of debating 
solutions for Iraq today, we are discussing a non-binding resolution 
that is equally as short-sighted and devoid of direction as President 
Bush's Iraq policy.
  We all have unwavering pride for our troops. The quagmire that Iraq 
has become is not the fault of the troops who have performed superbly--
it is the failure of the President to plan for a transition to peace.
  That is why I support the Murtha resolution. It would provide a plan 
for peace, redeploy our troops and allow us to bring them home as soon 
as practicable.
  Let's stop the carnage. Our presence in Iraq makes stability 
impossible. By remaining in Iraq, we make both Iraqi and American soil 
less secure. Let's bring our troops home.

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