Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

(As Prepared for Delivery)

Mr. Speaker, I believe in a robust military and strong national defense.

I oppose this escalation because I do not believe it will make America safer or improve security in Iraq.

At this hour, sending in more American forces cannot reasonably be expected to resolve a Civil War rooted in over 14 centuries of deep-seated historical division. 

I oppose escalation because I believe we must recognize Iraq for what it is, not what we want it to be.

Our best hope lies not with increasing Iraqi dependence on us, but rather in handing over greater responsibility to them.  The ultimate success or failure of this endeavor now lies in their hands, not ours.

Our goals in Iraq must reflect reality.

Our objective should be to protect ethnic and religious minorities from further oppression and genocide, and to maintain a strong deterrent against the spread of a broader war in the Middle East.

None of these ends is served, however, by simply escalating the failed strategy that has gotten us to this point.

Like most Americans, I am deeply dismayed by this Administration’s inept prosecution of this war.

At almost every turn, the president and his team have been intolerant and dismissive of outside advice.  The consequences of which have been dire.

The President sent our men and women into battle absent a real plan, and lacking the tools they need to protect themselves.

By pushing our allies aside, the President has isolated America from the world.

Now we are bearing the burden of the war virtually alone.

It did not have to come to this.

From the beginning, responsible critics who genuinely desire success in Iraq have offered the president and his team sensible strategies for changing course.  

Almost two years ago, I proposed a plan to the President that offered a responsible path forward. I am still waiting for his response.

President Roosevelt during World War II -President Truman during Korea and the dawn of the Cold War -President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis - and President Reagan at the twilight of the Cold War - all successfully guided the ship of state through the roughest of seas.

That caliber of leadership has been sorely lacking during this challenging time for our nation.  This President’s inability to admit and correct mistakes has not served our nation or our troops well.

Now, Iraq has descended into a bloody civil war that cannot be resolved by the American military.  The Sunni-Shia divide goes back 1400 years.

20,000 more American troops cannot reverse 14 centuries of division and hate. 

According to a recent poll, 71 Percent of Iraqis want us to leave. 61 Percent of Iraqis support attacking U.S. troops. To argue that increasing our presence in Iraq will lessen the violence defies common sense.

The American people and our military did not sign up for refereeing a civil war halfway across the planet. 

History has taught us that outside powers are ill-equipped to influence or resolve civil wars in foreign lands.

I am also deeply troubled that the war in Iraq has undermined our efforts to address urgent threats in the war on terrorism, most notably in Afghanistan.  After failing to kill Osama Bin Laden at Tora Bora, the Administration turned its attention to Iraq, allowing the Taliban to regain lost ground.

I believe we must refocus our efforts on the following objectives:

·                     Stopping the spread of a wider war in the Middle East

·                     Preventing a humanitarian crisis in Iraq

·                     Protecting ethnic and religious groups – such as Assyrian Christians – who are    vulnerable to persecution

·                     And we must redouble our efforts to snuff out the Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan.

Let me close, Mr. Speaker, by paying homage to our men and women in uniform.

Some have alleged that this debate is inconsistent with support for our troops. 

Those who insist that Congress should remain silent on this issue are very familiar with that word - silence.

Many have remained silent when it comes to supporting care for veterans and their families as well.

Many stood idly by for years, as our troops went into battle lacking the equipment and body armor they needed.

Most of all, far too many have been invisible when it comes to genuinely supporting our servicemen and women by insisting on an effective plan for concluding the war.

Simply repeating the word “victory” does not equal a plan, or support for our men and women in uniform. 

There is not a member of Congress who does not support the troops.

I want to THANK the troops. 

These brave men and women are America’s finest. They have done everything that has been asked of them and more. 

Let us honor them by thanking them for a job well done and pursuing a policy that is worthy of their sacrifice.