Congresswoman Watson Reacts to Prime Minister Allawi's Statement Before Joint Session of Congress
September 23, 2004
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Diane E. Watson issued a statement following Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi’s appearance before a joint session of Congress today:
“Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi’s speech before Congress was highly suspect because it comes literally weeks before the presidential elections, and appeared to deflect coverage from a situation in Iraq that goes from bad to worse. Even the most recent National Intelligence Estimate sketches a grim reality in Iraq, ranging from continued instability to outright civil war. Troop casualties and civilian kidnapings have increased, large parts of the country have come under the control of insurgents, and doubts are beginning to surface if democratic elections can be held in January as planned.
“Despite these occurrences, Allawi was upbeat and pleased with Iraq’s progress towards sovereignty.
“Our nation took unilateral, preemptive action in Iraq, and has spent over $200 billion, and counting. We are now facing a long term insurgency in Iraq, where young American men and women are put in harm’s way, are being wounded and dying on a daily basis. The situation is a quagmire. The President’s lack of a clear plan and exit strategy reminds me of the famous description of Emperor Nero having fiddled while Rome burned.