[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1051-E1052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2237, PROVIDING FOR REDEPLOYMENT OF 
UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND DEFENSE CONTRACTORS FROM IRAQ; PROVIDING 
 FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2206, U.S. TROOP READNESS, VETERANS' CARE, 
KATRINA RECOVERY, AND IRAQ ACCOUNTABILITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007; AND 
    PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2207, AGRICULTURAL DISASTER 
      ASSISTANCE AND WESTERN STATES EMERGENCY UNFINISHED BUSINESS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007

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                               speech of

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 10, 2007

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this measure 
before us today because it provides a clearly needed change in course 
in Iraq. The President has placed roughly 160,000 of our troops in a 
highly vulnerable position--refereeing a civil war--while the various 
factions in Iraq have not made adequate progress toward reconciliation. 
The needed political reconciliation among these groups will not happen 
until we make it clear to the Iraqis that our occupation is coming to 
an end.
  But our open-ended occupation of Iraq is not only not working; it's 
working against us. It undermines our fight against al-Qaeda and 
provides extremists a rallying point. We have every indication that al-
Qaeda is resurgent in Pakistan, that bin Laden finds himself stronger

[[Page E1052]]

than ever, and that al-Qaeda-linked groups are growing in number and 
audacity. We need to responsibly redeploy our troops from Iraq so we 
can better fight this growing threat.
  I initially had concerns with some of the language in this measure 
regarding funds for troops deployed to Iraq since January of this year. 
But after examining the bill more closely, I do not believe any 
provision in this bill would alter funding in a way that would put 
troops currently in the field at risk. The bottom line is that we must 
send a clear message to the President that we must change direction in 
Iraq and redeploy our troops.

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