Rep. John P. Murtha’s statement of November 17, 2005: War in Iraq

“The war in Iraq is not going as advertised. It is a flawed policy wrapped in illusion. The American public is way ahead of us. The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq, but it is time for a change in direction. Our military is suffering. The future of our country is at risk. We can not continue on the present course. It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interest of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf Region.”

“Murtha’s resolution would force the president to withdrawal the nearly 160,000 troops in Iraq “at the earliest predictable date (emphasis added).” [CNN]

House GOP seeks quick veto of Iraq pullout

Republican sponsored Resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States troops in Iraq be terminated immediately (emphasis added).

Watch the vote on C-SPAN

Pentagon plans for troop drawdown in Iraq – Proposal circulated on Capitol Hill depends on new Iraqi government

Related documents and news:
Friday, November 18, 2005 — “On the House floor, Rep. Waxman speaks against the Republican resolution and calls for answers to long-standing questions about the Administration’s use of forged evidence as the cornerstone of the case for war in Iraq. These concerns were raised by Rep. Waxman before the war started in a letter to President Bush on March 17, 2003.”

Video of Rep. Waxman’s Floor Statement

Rep. Waxman’s March 17, 2003 Letter to the President about Iraq Intelligence

Text of Rep. Waxman’s Statement

WSJ free content, Bush’s Iraq Woes Mount – White House Seeks to Stem Rising Antiwar Sentiment

The House late Friday overwhelmingly rejected calls for an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq, a vote engineered by the Republicans that was intended to fail.

Defense official: Rumsfeld given Iraq withdrawal plan