Barbara Lee Applauds News that Obama Administration Will Bring Troops in Iraq Home by Year's End
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882
Washington, D.C.– Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to the Obama Administration’s announcement that it will honor the SOFA agreement with Iraq that called for all U.S. combat troops to leave Iraq by Dec. 31, 2011:
“I am pleased that the Obama Administration has chosen to fully withdraw the U.S. military force from Iraq. In the face of pressure to extend the counterproductive presence of combat troops, we should follow the lead of the people of both Iraq and the United States, who overwhelmingly agree that it is time for the remaining U.S. armed forces to return home.
“This move fulfills the call of a letter to the President that I spearheaded in July, along with 92 members of Congress , urging the Administration hold to our nation’s Status of Forces Agreement with the government of Iraq that commits our nation to bringing all of our troops and military contractors home at the end of this calendar year. It also fulfills the objective of legislation I introduced, H.R. 2757, The Iraq Withdrawal Accountability Act of 2011, which limited military funds to solely supporting the swift and safe withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq.
“I applaud President Obama for following through on our commitment to execute a safe, responsible, and complete withdrawal of the 47,000 troops in Iraq. This move will save tens of billions of dollars, reduce regional instability, and enhance our standing throughout the world.
“As the author of provisions signed into law prohibiting the establishment of permanent bases in Iraq, I will remain vigilant about any U.S. presence in Iraq.”
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