Dodd: “There is no military solution to the conflict in Iraq—you said that yourself General Petraeus”

Today, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) attended the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing where Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus testified on the development of 30,000 additional US troops in Iraq. Dodd continued to demand that the President change course in Iraq and begin a redeployment of US troops.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced critical funding for key military facility improvements in Connecticut.  The 2008 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, approved by the Senate today, included $11.9 million to renovate a small craft facility at the New London submarine base and $13.6 million to develop a new Readiness Center at the Connecticut National Guard training center located in Niantic. 

“Today's report by the Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq has found what the American people concluded long ago. As General Jones said, "there is a fine line between assistance and dependence." I could not have said it better myself.  The report states that Iraq’s Police Force is exceedingly dysfunctional and should be dismantled ; and that Iraq’s Army still has  a way to go before it will be an effective defense force.  Iraq's political leadership is not going to take the necessary steps to address these and other weaknesses in Iraq's government until they understand that our commitment truly is not open-ended.   That is why we should begin to redeploy US combat forces from Iraq and to complete that redeployment by April 31, 2008.  Then there can be no doubt that Iraq's future is the responsibility of its political leaders.”

Today Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) expressed his opposition to the reported Levin-Reed legislation:

"Rather than picking up votes, by removing the deadline to get our troops out of Iraq you have lost this Democrat's vote. 

"Today the Government Accountability Office submitted a report to Congress demonstrating that there has been virtually no political progress in Iraq.  Additionally, the GAO reported that overall violence in Iraq still remains extremely high, and despite the Administration’s claims to the contrary, the GAO could not determine whether sectarian violence has decreased.  This report demonstrates, unequivocally, that the Bush Administration's surge tactic has failed in its key objective, namely to provide breathing space for the Iraqi Government to begin the process of political reconciliation.  This report reinforces the conclusion that many Americans reached long ago: there is no military solution to the conflict in Iraq.  That status quo is simply unacceptable, and with this new conclusive confirmation that the surge tactic has failed—as many of us feared it would—it is time to bring our troops home."

Senators write letter to Sec. Chertoff seeking status of overdue bomb prevention report

September 04, 2007

Concerned for the safety and security of all Americans at home and abroad, Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Robert Byrd (D-WV), today sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff demanding answers over a long overdue national strategy for bombing prevention.  The strategy, which was due to Congress by January of this year, according to the fiscal year 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, is a comprehensive plan to prevent bombings and a review of all current federal, state, and local efforts to secure the national from this threat. 

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) made the following statement in reaction to today’s report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that ruled against the Air Force in the contract selection case for the Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter (CSAR-X).   

Asks Secretary Paulson to ensure foreign transactions are reviewed adequately under new law

Following recent news reports that a Chinese firm may acquire the largest computer disc drive producer in the United States, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson urging him to adhere strictly to new legislation enacted to ensure that foreign investments in the US are carefully reviewed to make certain that there are no negative national security implications and that only investments that promote economic growth and job creation are consummated.  Senator Dodd, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, authored the Foreign Investment and National Security Act of 2007, which would require that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review and investigate foreign investments to determine if they are a threat to U.S. security.  The measure was signed into law by President Bush last month. 

Senators Chris Dodd, (D-CT), and Joe Lieberman, (ID-CT), announced Thursday that Connecticut will receive more than $1.1 million in port security grants from the Infrastructure Protection Program within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). New London will receive $767,438, Bridgeport will receive $285,336 and New Haven will receive $48,500. Connecticut will also receive $728, 231 in Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPF) as part of the FY2007 Supplemental Appropriations. Furthermore, Connecticut will participate in a $37-million transit security grant program for the New York City metropolitan area

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) today announced important funding for key Coast Guard facilities in Connecticut. The funds, totaling approximately $120 million, are included in the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2008, which was approved yesterday by the Senate.