An early and outspoken opponent of the war, Congressman Moran voted against authorizing President Bush to go to war, co-authoring the Democratic alternative resolution which required the former president to fully exhaust all diplomatic options before taking military action. He was also the original author of legislation that required the Defense Department, for the first time, to begin providing Congress with regular reports detailing how military operations were progressing in Iraq.
The Congressman believes that the U.S. military presence in Iraq has stretched our armed forces too thin, severely damaged our country’s international reputation, and served as a recruiting tool for those who wish to commit acts of terrorism against the United States and its citizens at home and abroad. Through 2011, our presence in Iraq has taken the lives of more than 4,400 servicemembers and cost the United States $806 billion.
Today, there are less than 50,000 U.S. troops remaining in Iraq. Our soldiers have transitioned from a combat support role to an “advise and assist role,” during which they will only engage in combat operations if explicitly asked by the Iraqi government to do so. According to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed between the U.S. and Iraq, all U.S. troops are required to leave Iraq by December 31, 2011, formally ending our occupation of that country. Congressman Moran supports these efforts to draw down our troop levels in a timely, orderly manner, allowing the Iraqis to begin taking full responsibility for their country’s future.