NEWS

House Foreign Affairs Committee

U.S. House of Representatives

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican

CONTACT: Sam Stratman, (202) 226-7875

Lee Cohen, (202 226-1139

January 10, 2007

For IMMEDIATE Release

Ros-Lehtinen Comments on President’s Iraq Plan

(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented Wednesday evening on the speech by President Bush detailing changes in U.S. strategy in Iraq:

Iraqis and Americans alike share a common goal of ensuring that there is a strong government in Baghdad that can assume full responsibility for Iraq’s security, its economy, and a democratic political process. I wholeheartedly agree with the President that the United States cannot abandon the brave efforts of the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people at this critical time. At stake in this struggle is the future not only of Iraq but of the entire Middle East. Our choice is clear: either we help the Iraqi people achieve peace, security, and prosperity or we allow their enemies -- and ours -- to prevail.

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