Iraq Supplemental: This Is Not the End of the Debate
I'm really glad that the Republicans finally admit that there's a need for accountability. But what they haven't done is met that need with something appropriate. This is like a fig leaf. This is a token. This is a small step forward....
This is not the end of the debate. We have to be here to bring this bill to the House floor so we can go forward. But this debate will go on. There will be legislation on the floor in the next several months to change the mission, from combat to fighting terrorism, training and diplomatic and force protection. Again, that would require a greatly reduced U.S. forces and coalition forces in Iraq.
We will have legislation to repeal the President's authority for the war in Iraq. We will have that vote. We will have votes on Mr. Murtha's defense appropriations bill, one of them the regular order defense appropriations bill, another one the supplemental that has been requested by the Bush Administration.
Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today sad that the opportunity that we had has been missed. There is a recognition that we need accountability because the American people are demanding it. At least 70 percent of the American people say we have to have accountability. Instead of putting accountability into the bill, we make a gesture at it.
We could have taken a giant step in a new direction, instead we're taking a baby step. But as I said, this is not the end of the debate.
As we think about all of this, I'd like to recall the words of a philosopher, Hannah Arendt, who once observed that nations are driven to an endless flywheel of violence because they believe that one last, one final gesture of violence will bring peace. But each time they sow the seeds for more violence.
That is what President Bush is doing in Iraq.
Watch:
| Speaker Pelosi: "We will have legislation to repeal the President's authority for the war in Iraq. We will have that vote. We will have votes on Mr. Murtha's defense appropriations bill, one of them the regular order defense appropriations bill, another one the supplemental that has been requested by the Bush Administration...Instead of putting accountability into the bill, we make a gesture at it. We could have taken a giant step in a new direction, instead we're taking a baby step. But as I said, this is not the end of the debate." |