(Washington, DC)— Congresswoman Diane E. Watson (CA-33) delivered the following comments in response to a Republican bill to withdraw troops from Iraq:

"An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.  Today the Republican leadership could not muster the votes to pass a cynical bill that would have made tax cuts for the rich permanent.  So it then decided to offer an equally cynical resolution on Iraq as part of a cheap stunt designed to slander Representative John Murtha (PA-12) who yesterday offered a resolution to redeploy U.S. troops in Iraq.

"The Republican resolution, calling for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, is not Mr. Murtha’s resolution.  Mr. Murtha’s resolution mandates the orderly withdrawal and redeployment of U.S. troops at the earliest practicable date.  The Republican resolution has no force of law.  It is only a sense of Congress resolution that would not bring a single troop home, unlike Mr. Murtha’s bill.

"Mr. Murtha’s resolution serves another important purpose.  To date, there has been little if any congressional oversight of the President’s Iraq policy.  The lack of oversight has seriously compromised our nation’s ability to build a more secure world.  In this critical period of U.S. history it is important for the House of Representatives to exercise its oversight responsibilities.  The debate is long overdue.  Mr. Murtha’s resolution represents a point of departure for congressional debate on Iraq.  The Republican resolution is designed to short-circuit the process.

"Sadly, some of those who criticize Mr. Murtha’s opposition to the war have engaged in name calling and impugning the Congressman’s motives.  Clearly it’s a sign of desperation.  As former President Clinton recently said: “attacking somebody’s motives is the last refuge of somebody who’s on the short end of the stick.” 

"The American people will not be deceived by parliamentary sleights of hand.  Two thirds of the American public now have serious reservations about our involvement in Iraq.  Today the Republican leadership did not listen to the American people despite the fact that the American people are asking them to listen.  Representative Murtha had it right when he said that they are way ahead of us.

"It’s time for the House Republican leadership to get back to the real business of the American people and use the constitutional powers of the legislative branch to conduct meaningful oversight and review of the administration’s Iraq policy."