Obama Statement on Iraq Spending Bill
Friday, November 16, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Amy Brundage, 202 228 5566
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement after Republicans filibustered consideration of the Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act of 2007 (H.R. 4156). The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the bill by a vote of 53 to 45.
"I will not support funding for a failed policy. It is long past time for the Republicans to stop filibustering a responsible removal of our troops from Iraq, and for the President to stop threatening to veto anything that is not a blank check for his failed strategy.
"Our troops must not bear the burden for the failure of Iraq's leaders to reconcile, nor should they be kept in Iraq to counter Iran.
"Our national security depends upon a fixed timeline for the removal of our combat troops from Iraq that will finally pressure the Iraqi government to reach a political accommodation, and allow us to restore our military and renew our leadership around the world. Regrettably, Republicans appear unwilling to allow the Senate to consider these important matters."