Blog Post
A Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve, Congressman Carney (D-PA) served multiple tours overseas and was activated for operations Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle, and Southern Watch. Listen to Rep. Carney discuss the bipartisan resolution that passed in the House yesterday expressing support for our troops and disapproving of the President's escalation plan in Iraq >>Read the transcript:
"In November the voters made a clear statement about their stance on the war in Iraq," Lantos noted. "And public opinion has demonstrably rejected the Administration's escalation plan. Today the Congress made a bipartisan and strong statement affirming support for the troops and opposing the escalation. This is a powerful message expressing the people's will that the Administration cannot ignore."
House Armed Services Committee: Skelton On House Passage Of Iraq Resolution
The speech concludes:
"We have the six elements that we talked about: change of mission, redeployment of troops, building of political consensus, engaging in diplomacy, reform of reconstruction, and a refocus on the war on terror."By placing so much emphasis on dealing with the problems in Iraq militarily and not enough emphasis on sustained political and diplomatic engagement, the President's escalation plan repeats past mistakes.
"The stakes in Iraq are too high to recycle proposals that have little prospect for success.
On Wednesday, amidst reports that thousands of Army humvees to be used in the escalation lack vital armor upgrades, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid sent a letter to President Bush urging him to take the necessary steps to ensure that the tens of thousands of soldiers being sent to escalate the war in Iraq have the armor and equipment needed to perform their mission and protect their lives. Today the news only gets more worrisome as far as the safety of our troops is concerned:
Iraq Troop Boost Erodes Readiness, General Says
Washington Post, Ann Scott Tyson - February 16, 2007
Leader Steny Hoyer and Whip James Clyburn join Gulf Coast Members. From Democratic Whip Clyburn's office:
Clyburn Announces Legislation to Speed Up Relief to Gulf CoastBill Would Waive 25 Percent Local Funding Match Under Stafford Act and Forgive Community Disaster Loans
Pelosi: Bush Lacks Power to Invade Iran
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent - Thursday, February 15, 2007
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that President Bush lacks the authority to invade Iran without specific approval from Congress, a fresh challenge to the commander in chief on the eve of a symbolic vote critical of his troop buildup in Iraq.Pelosi, D-Calif., noted that Bush consistently said he supports a diplomatic resolution to differences with Iran "and I take him at his word."
UPDATE: Watch Rep. Stephen Lynch describe how a contractor apparently made $8 million with no value added by subcontracting:
Watch Rep. Bruce Braley question a government auditor about the building of duplicate Olympic size swimming pools in Iraq: