Heath Shuler On Failures In Iraq

So what is the point of you posting this? Did he not voted for the additional spending to keep this failed policy going?

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When will the vote be? And do you think given his statement from yesterday he actually is going to let his vote follow his conviction?

Shuler releases statement on Petraeus testimony
Published September 11, 2007 3:20 pm

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, has issued a statement in
response to the congressional testimony of General David Petraeus and
Ambassador Ryan Crocker:

“Yesterday, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker
testified before a joint hearing of the House Armed Services and
Foreign Affairs Committees. I have tremendous respect for both men
for their dedication and service to our Nation.”

“In January, the President laid out a plan to increase the number of
American troops serving in Iraq. He claimed that the surge would give
‘breathing room’ to the Iraqi government so political progress could
be made. I spoke out against that surge then because I saw it as
nothing more than a continuation of his failed policies. I felt that
it did nothing to force the Iraqis to take ownership of their
country, to put aside ethnic and religious differences, or to make
real and sustainable political progress.”

“There is little evidence that the surge has resulted in political
progress being made in Iraq. Our brave men and women in uniform
continue to police a civil war, and after nine months, the situation
in Iraq remains tragically unstable.”

“The Government Accountability Office reported last week that the
Iraqi government has failed to meet 15 of 18 benchmarks for success.
A separate report from retired Marine General James Jones declared
that Iraq is still far from being able to take over its own security
responsibilities. General Jones’ report also declared that the Iraqi
Interior Ministry, which is charged with maintaining Iraqi security
forces, is “dysfunctional” and recommended disbanding the national
police force.”

“We cannot create a stable Iraq by focusing solely on military
solutions. We have heard this repeatedly from numerous military
commanders, including General Petraeus, who has himself said, `There
is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq, to the
insurgency of Iraq.’ Retired Lieutenant General William Odom has also
said, `No effective new strategy can be devised for the United States
until it begins withdrawing its forces from Iraq. Only that step will
break the paralysis that now confronts us.’ I agree with these
assessments that we must change our course in Iraq.”

“Yet, General Petraeus recommended that the surge continue at least
another year and that America’s military involvement in Iraq last
well into the future.”

“An indefinite commitment to staying the course is unacceptable. The
time has come for a new direction in Iraq – a direction that
prioritizes political stability and forces the Iraqis to become
responsible for securing for their own country, thus providing
stability in the region. We must remain committed to protecting our
Nation while focusing on the defeat of Al-Qaeda and the capture of
Osama Bin Laden.”

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770911025

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