Pelosi Statement on the Fourth Anniversary of the War in Iraq
Friday, March 16, 2007
Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. â€" Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq, which is on Monday, March 19th:
“Four years ago on Monday, our nation launched an ill-conceived war of choice in Iraq. The war has claimed the lives of nearly 3,200 American troops; wounded tens of thousands more, thousands of them grievously. It has brought our military’s readiness to the lowest levels since the Vietnam war, cost billions of dollars; and significantly damaged the standing of the United States in the eyes of the world.
“The American people made clear in last fall’s election, however, that they have lost confidence in the President’s ability to bring the war to an end. They want a new direction on Iraq. Next week, the full House will debate legislation that presents a clear choice: either we continue with an open-ended war or we have tough accountability leading to the responsible redeployment of our troops.
“As we approach the fourth anniversary of the war, we all should take time to reflect on those who have made the greatest sacrifices - our troops and their families here at home. We salute them because of their courage and patriotism. American soldiers have done everything asked of them and we are forever in their debt.�