[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 18, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H3482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              THE IRAQ WAR

  (Mr. NADLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, the United States invaded Iraq, 
ostensibly to eliminate weapons of mass destruction. When no such 
weapons were found, instead of declaring victory and bringing the 
troops home, the administration in its arrogance decided to dismantle 
the major institutions of Iraqi society and settle into a long-term 
occupation in order to remake Iraq in our own image.
  The dismantling of Iraqi institutions, the army, the Baath party, et 
cetera, led to the breakdown of the delicate balances in Iraqi society 
and the emergence of civil war between Sunnis and Shiites. The 
continuing occupation led, as occupations do, to the development of a 
nationalist insurgency.
  Now we have Sunni, Shiites and the insurgents shooting at each other 
and all shooting at American troops. This will go on as long as the 
occupation continues. The only way out is for Congress to mandate a 
timetable for a phased withdrawal of our troops.
  Only such a mandate can get the Iraqi Government to step up to the 
plate. As Defense Secretary Gates said yesterday, the strong feelings 
expressed in the Congress about the timetable probably has had a 
positive impact in terms of communicating to the Iraqis that this is 
not an open-ended commitment. Only a mandated timetable for withdrawal 
will end the endless occupation and end the endless bloodshed of young 
Americans.

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