Today marks 6 months since I introduced my resolution calling for the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq. Over these past 6 months things have gotten worse, not better. Those who disagree with me argue "we can't just leave," but they have no plan to make things better. The fact is the success of Iraq is up to the Iraqis. The Iraqis must settle their differences and we must set a timetable for the Iraqis to take complete control of their country.
Instead of showing progress, oil production remains below prewar levels, electricity in Baghdad measured only 2.9 hours per day last week, and more than half of all Iraqis are unemployed. Every month we are spending over $8 billion in Iraq.
When I visit the severely wounded at our military hospitals, I ask "what happened to you?" Most say they were blown up while looking for IEDs. That's a hell of a mission.
Over the last 6 months, more Iraqis have died in sectarian violence than at anytime since the toppling of Saddam Hussein. This is a civil war and our military is caught in the middle of it.
The war in Iraq has been more harmful than beneficial to our counterterrorism efforts. And while the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate, this Administration continues to say things are going very well. They ignore the real story. Secretary Rumsfeld says that progress in Iraq is evidenced by how many satellite dishes he sees on rooftops, but ignores the fact that electricity is only provided for 2.9 hours per day.
Karl Rove recently said the public is "sour" on the war in Iraq. The use of the word "sour" disgracefully minimizes public reaction to the way this Administration has run the war. Try using disillusioned, betrayed, and deeply concerned about the lives of our service members, the future of the military, and the future of this country if we continue down this open-ended and ill defined path.
Does anyone think that things will be better 6 months from now?