GOP Leader Blog
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Boehner Puts the Iraq Debate in Perspective, Challenges Democrats to Take Meaningful Action
Posted by
GOP Leader Press Office
on
February 08, 2007
At a press conference this morning, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) discussed Iraq’s importance in the Global War on Terror, the stakes in Iraq, and the fact that House Democrats are offering only non-binding resolutions and have no plan for winning in Iraq. ON IRAQ’S IMPORTANCE IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR BOEHNER: “And I think, for a lot of my colleagues, they don't grasp that the fight in Iraq is more than what happens there. This is part of a larger fight, a global fight, against radical Islamic jihadists who have waged war on the United States and our allies. “We didn't start this war -- they did.” (AUDIO) ON THE STAKES IN IRAQ BOEHNER: “You know, while Iraq might be the most visible front in this global war against these terrorists, fleeing Iraq doesn't mean the war's going to end. We're still going to have these global jihadists intent on killing Americans and our allies. “And so, as we get into this debate next week, we believe that victory is the only option and that fleeing Iraq will only provide a safe haven for terrorists, possibly access to their oil revenues, a further destabilizing of not only Iraq but the greater Middle East, and many of us believe that if we were to bring our troops home, they're just going to turn around and follow us here to America. “I believe that winning is vital to our national security interests, and [to] protecting the American people.” (AUDIO) ON DEMOCRATS’ NON-BINDING RESOLUTIONS BOEHNER: “Now a nonbinding resolution is nothing more than political theater that means nothing. And I believe that it demoralizes our troops in the field. And if they're really serious about their intent to bring troops home, why not bring a real resolution to the floor and have a debate about whether, in fact, they should cut funding or not? “I think the American people deserve a plan from the other side. If they don't like what the president's plan is to reinforce what's going on in Iraq, to reinforce the Iraqi troops in Baghdad, then what is their plan?” (AUDIO) READ MORE: |