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The Cost of War in Iraq: 'Mission Accomplished' - 5 Years Later - 5/1/08
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 in Iraq over. Five years later, the war in Iraq continues to take a grave toll on our troops and their families, our military readiness, the fight against terrorism, our standing in the world and on the American economy.
Countdown to General David Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker's Visit to Capitol Hill - 4/8/08
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 in Iraq over. Five years later, the war in Iraq continues to take a grave toll on our troops and their families, our military readiness, the fight against terrorism, our standing in the world and on the American economy.
Countdown to General David Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker's Visit to Capitol Hill - 4/8/08
This week, General David Petraeus and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker will testify before Congress about the Iraq war. As many media reports have made apparent, the intention of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker next week is simply to announce a continuation of the current strategy – the decision to maintain at least 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq indefinitely was made weeks ago.
Political Progress in Iraq Is “Slow, Halting and Superficial" - 04/07/2008
New nonpartisan reports conclude that no meaningful political reconciliation has occurred in Iraq.
The Cost of the War in Iraq - Five Years Later - 3/17/08
Five years of this badly planned and misguided war has had tremendous costs in human life, our military readiness, the loss of focus on al Qaeda in Afghanistan, and a weakened American economy.
Looking Back at the President's 'Surge' - 1/10/08
Despite the bravery of our soliders, one year later the Iraqi government is still failing to take responsibility for their country.
Iraq Update: Longer Tours of Duty Taking Toll on our Troops - 12/5/07
Seven months ago, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced a “temporary” tour of duty extension for all active duty Army soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan – from 12 month long deployments to 15 months – to meet the president’s so-called “surge.” Yesterday, Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno told the Associated Press that these 15-month combat tours are likely to last until at least the end of 2008.
President Bush's Iraq Strategy: More of the Same - 9/13/2007
Tonight President Bush is expected to announce to the American people that he will keep at least 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq – same level as before he announced his “surge” strategy in January.
In the News: Editorial Boards Around the Nation Respond to Petraeus-Crocker Testimony - 9/12/07
Sixteen newspapers around the nation weighed in on the Petraeus-Crocker testimony. As the Mississippi Jackson Sun wrote in "Petraeus testimony was just 'more of the same,'" “Perhaps the biggest problem with the current war strategy is that it goes against the wishes of the vast majority of Americans. Americans are tired. They're tired of the violence. They're tired of the death. And they're tired of war with no end in sight.”
Fact Sheet: America Wants a New Direction in Iraq - 9/10/07
June, July and August 2007 marked the bloodiest summer so far for U.S. troops in Iraq, with 264 soldiers killed. Recent polls show that Iraqis are ready for the U.S. to drawdown, and that Americans want a new direction in Iraq. A joint poll released today by ABC News, BBC News and Japan's NHK shows that 47 percent of Iraqis want American forces and their coalition allies to leave the country immediately - a 12 percent increase over March. Today's New York Times reports that 78 percent of Americans believe the U.S. should withdraw some or all of our troops from Iraq.
More Evidence Raises Credibility Question About White House Report On Iraq - 9/6/07
According to a report in today’s Washington Post, U.S. military leaders and the White House are “cherry-picking” data on violence in Iraq to bolster their claims that the President’s failed war strategy is working. In order to support this claim, military and Administration calculations are based on a system of categorizing and excluding statistics that “selectively ignored negative trends” and “puzzled” senior intelligence officials and the nation’s chief auditor and head of the Government Accountability Office.
Cost of Iraq War Rising - 7/12/07
America Needs a New Direction in Iraq, Not More Excuses - 6/6/07
In the wake of the deadliest two-month period of the Iraq war, 231 U.S. service men and women killed in April and May, the facts on the ground show an increasingly grim picture. It is time for a new direction – with tough accountability – not more excuses from the Bush Administration.
Fact Sheet: The Bush Administration: Failing Our Troops and Veterans - 2/26/07
It has been nearly four years since the President declared “Mission Accomplished,” America continues to pay a steep price for his failed strategy in Iraq. Thousands of brave men and women serving in our nation’s active and reserve military have died and tens of thousands have been wounded – many permanently. Sadly, the military and VA health care systems are in crisis. It is overwhelmed by troops returning from Iraq seeking care and, in many cases, unable to provide these men and women the quality, timely services they deserve.
Fact Sheet: The President Is Alone in Calling for an Escalation in Iraq - 1/10/07
The President's plan to escalate the war is opposed by top military leaders, foreign policy experts, elected leaders of both parties, and the majority of the American people. Despite the fact that there is no purely military solution in Iraq, the President plans to make our troops and their families sacrifice even more for his flawed policies. Congress will hold the President accountable to ensure a change of course that turns Iraq over to the Iraqis and allows for our troops to come home.
Fact Sheet: By the Numbers: The Iraq War & U.S. National Security - 1/10/07
"I have been visiting our wounded troops at Bethesda and Walter Reed hospitals almost every week since the beginning of the War. And what demoralizes them is going to war with not enough troops and equipment to make the transition to peace; the devastation caused by IEDs; being deployed to Iraq when their homes have been ravaged by hurricanes; being on their second or third deployment and leaving their families behind without a network of support."
-- Rep. John Murtha, 11/17/2005
New nonpartisan reports conclude that no meaningful political reconciliation has occurred in Iraq.
The Cost of the War in Iraq - Five Years Later - 3/17/08
Five years of this badly planned and misguided war has had tremendous costs in human life, our military readiness, the loss of focus on al Qaeda in Afghanistan, and a weakened American economy.
Looking Back at the President's 'Surge' - 1/10/08
Despite the bravery of our soliders, one year later the Iraqi government is still failing to take responsibility for their country.
Iraq Update: Longer Tours of Duty Taking Toll on our Troops - 12/5/07
Seven months ago, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced a “temporary” tour of duty extension for all active duty Army soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan – from 12 month long deployments to 15 months – to meet the president’s so-called “surge.” Yesterday, Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno told the Associated Press that these 15-month combat tours are likely to last until at least the end of 2008.
President Bush's Iraq Strategy: More of the Same - 9/13/2007
Tonight President Bush is expected to announce to the American people that he will keep at least 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq – same level as before he announced his “surge” strategy in January.
In the News: Editorial Boards Around the Nation Respond to Petraeus-Crocker Testimony - 9/12/07
Sixteen newspapers around the nation weighed in on the Petraeus-Crocker testimony. As the Mississippi Jackson Sun wrote in "Petraeus testimony was just 'more of the same,'" “Perhaps the biggest problem with the current war strategy is that it goes against the wishes of the vast majority of Americans. Americans are tired. They're tired of the violence. They're tired of the death. And they're tired of war with no end in sight.”
Fact Sheet: America Wants a New Direction in Iraq - 9/10/07
June, July and August 2007 marked the bloodiest summer so far for U.S. troops in Iraq, with 264 soldiers killed. Recent polls show that Iraqis are ready for the U.S. to drawdown, and that Americans want a new direction in Iraq. A joint poll released today by ABC News, BBC News and Japan's NHK shows that 47 percent of Iraqis want American forces and their coalition allies to leave the country immediately - a 12 percent increase over March. Today's New York Times reports that 78 percent of Americans believe the U.S. should withdraw some or all of our troops from Iraq.
More Evidence Raises Credibility Question About White House Report On Iraq - 9/6/07
According to a report in today’s Washington Post, U.S. military leaders and the White House are “cherry-picking” data on violence in Iraq to bolster their claims that the President’s failed war strategy is working. In order to support this claim, military and Administration calculations are based on a system of categorizing and excluding statistics that “selectively ignored negative trends” and “puzzled” senior intelligence officials and the nation’s chief auditor and head of the Government Accountability Office.
Cost of Iraq War Rising - 7/12/07
America Needs a New Direction in Iraq, Not More Excuses - 6/6/07
In the wake of the deadliest two-month period of the Iraq war, 231 U.S. service men and women killed in April and May, the facts on the ground show an increasingly grim picture. It is time for a new direction – with tough accountability – not more excuses from the Bush Administration.
Fact Sheet: The Bush Administration: Failing Our Troops and Veterans - 2/26/07
It has been nearly four years since the President declared “Mission Accomplished,” America continues to pay a steep price for his failed strategy in Iraq. Thousands of brave men and women serving in our nation’s active and reserve military have died and tens of thousands have been wounded – many permanently. Sadly, the military and VA health care systems are in crisis. It is overwhelmed by troops returning from Iraq seeking care and, in many cases, unable to provide these men and women the quality, timely services they deserve.
Fact Sheet: The President Is Alone in Calling for an Escalation in Iraq - 1/10/07
The President's plan to escalate the war is opposed by top military leaders, foreign policy experts, elected leaders of both parties, and the majority of the American people. Despite the fact that there is no purely military solution in Iraq, the President plans to make our troops and their families sacrifice even more for his flawed policies. Congress will hold the President accountable to ensure a change of course that turns Iraq over to the Iraqis and allows for our troops to come home.
Fact Sheet: By the Numbers: The Iraq War & U.S. National Security - 1/10/07
"I have been visiting our wounded troops at Bethesda and Walter Reed hospitals almost every week since the beginning of the War. And what demoralizes them is going to war with not enough troops and equipment to make the transition to peace; the devastation caused by IEDs; being deployed to Iraq when their homes have been ravaged by hurricanes; being on their second or third deployment and leaving their families behind without a network of support."
-- Rep. John Murtha, 11/17/2005