Congresswoman Lee Vows to Hold Administration Accountable on Iraq Deadline
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661
Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to reports that Secretary Gates expressed qualified support for extending the deployment of U.S. military troops in Iraq beyond 2011:
“More than 8 years ago, former President Bush embroiled the United States and our brave men and women in uniform in an immoral and disastrous war of choice in Iraq that has cost our nation $900 billion and the lives of more than 4,400 U.S. soldiers.
“On the heels of the Obama Administration’s decision to engage the United States in yet another costly military engagement in Libya, we cannot afford, nor is it in our national and economic security interest, to extend this counterproductive war.
“Any United States-Iraq agreement which commits U.S. armed forces in Iraq beyond 2011 must be approved by an Act of Congress.
“We must end this war as President Obama pledged to accomplish by the end of this year, and we must prevent any backsliding on this critical national security commitment.”
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