The Congressional Progressive Caucus has issued this press release:
PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS SPEAK FOR MAJORITY OF AMERICAN PEOPLE DURING IRAQ DEBATE IN HOUSE
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey, Co-Chairwomen of the 64-Member Congressional Progressive Caucus, (CPC) and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the 74-Member Out of Iraq Caucus, today led the way in giving voice to the growing majority of more than 60% of the American people who believe that it was a costly mistake for the U.S. to go to war in Iraq and who want a redeployment of American troops out of Iraq.
They were joined by many other CPC Members, who in coordinated fashion, ripped the Republican Leadership for substituting a partisan charade on the House floor for a free and open debate during which any Member of Congress could offer amendments. Those CPC Members who spoke out were united on the following:
· Support for the Murtha Plan (H.J.Res.73) as a responsible, time-bound plan for achieving honorable U.S. military disengagement from Iraq with maximum safety for U.S. troops and Iraqis;
· Opposition to the permanent establishment U.S. military bases in Iraq; and
· Support for ending the open-ended, U.S.-led military occupation of Iraq, which is a major contributor to the on-going Iraqi civil war.
"While we're debating a sham bill, the most substantive decision on Iraq policy in recent days, a decision that could impact whether our troops come home or not, was taken by the Republican majority behind closed doors," said U.S. Representative Lee, whose amendment to prevent permanent bases in Iraq was stripped out of the Iraq supplemental in conference committee. "I support the Murtha Resolution and I believe we should bring our troops home, but if my Republican colleagues believe we should permanently leave a force of 50,000 American troops in Iraq-as the New York Times recently reported-then I think the Republicans should defend their position on the Floor and put it to a vote."
"If only those who are running this war had half the honor and integrity of the men and women who are fighting it," noted U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey. "It's time this Congress caught up to the American people and it's time the "Commander-in-Chief stepped up by offering a solution instead of dismissing Americans' anxiety as just politics."
via Joel Bleifuss
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