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May 01, 2008                                             www.house.gov/tauscher

Rep. Ellen Tauscher Marks Fifth Anniversary of "Mission Accomplished"

Washington, DC - On May 1, 2003, President Bush landed on the U.S.S. Lincoln, an aircraft carrier adorned with a banner reading ‘Mission Accomplished,' and declared major combat operations over in Iraq. Rep. Ellen Tauscher released the following statement today marking the anniversary.

"It is easy to get caught up in the political rhetoric that has been associated with the Iraq War since the onset, but the undeniable facts are that five years after being told that major military operations had ended the war in Iraq, that conflict continues to take a grave toll on our troops and their families. It is undermining our military readiness, our fight against terrorism worldwide, our standing in the world and the American economy. 

"While we have spent an estimated $46 billion on reconstruction contracts in Iraq many of our domestic priorities are being overlooked.  American's want a greater investment in education, health care, roads and bridges, and a solution to the current economic downturn that has led to a housing crisis and a credit crunch.

"While the Bush administration is dead-set on hemorrhaging money with failed policies and misplaced priorities the Democratic Congress is committed to enacting policies that not only protect our nation but invest in our economic security.  We are all counting down the days until we have a new administration committed to working with the Congress, listening to the American people, and getting America back on track."