Crowley: Bush Has No Strategy, So Get Out Of Iraq

At hearings before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs of which Congressmember Joseph Crowley is a member, General David Petraeus and the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq "once again disappointed those of us concerned with a lack of tangible progress in the ongoing war in Iraq," Crowley declared.

"Even within the tightly scripted confines of a public hearing, the stark truths remain inescapable- the Bush administration has no strategy for ending the war and bringing our troops home," Crowley (D- Queens/The Bronx) stated.

Crowley continued: "The United States has spent five years in Iraq. We have helped to quell violence, train the Iraqi military and police and rebuild and improve their vital infrastructure. However, our unwavering commitment to this mission has greatly depleted our military force and distracted our country from addressing other global threats."

The lawmaker stated, "The real cost of this war is revealed best in cold hard numbers: 4,017 U.S. troops killed to date; 29,676 U.S. troops wounded; approximately 1,700,000 U.S. troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since September 2001. In the four minutes it takes to read this statement, the U.S. will spend over $1 million dollars on funding this war.

"This February," Crowley added "I had, the honor and privilege to visit our troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan and witnessed our ongoing efforts in both regions. I was briefed by civilian and military leadership, saw combat areas first-hand, and met the brave men and women of the armed forces. I had no doubt that I would be impressed by our troops, and I was. But, this is no longer a question of our military's capability and skill. This is a question of what is best for our troops and what is best for the safety of our nation.

"My opinion in no way undermines my profound respect for General Petraeus, Ambassador Crocker and the difficult and dangerous work they do. We all agree that we, as a nation, strongly support our troops."

- John Toscano