On Petreaus Testimony: Continuing Failed Surge in Iraq Until at Least Next Summer Is Unacceptable

Last November, the American people voted for a New Direction in Iraq, but the President chose instead to escalate the war by reverting to a 'surge' strategy that had failed four times before. The President promised the American people that this surge would be a short-term effort to provide space for political reform and national reconciliation in Iraq. Today, despite overwhelming evidence that neither goal has been achieved, General Petraeus testified that the surge would last at least until next summer. This is simply unacceptable.

Iraqis do not believe their security has been improved by the surge or by the American military presence in Iraq. The American people want to know why our troops must continue to sacrifice when a majority of the Iraqis want our forces out of their country. At home, an overwhelming majority of Americans want us to responsibly redeploy our troops so we can begin to address the dire readiness state of our military and refocus on fighting terrorism around the world. Standing in the way is the stubborn refusal of President Bush to change course, regardless of the facts.

The President's strategy in Iraq has failed. It is time to change the mission of our troops to one that will promote regional stability and combat terrorism, so that the numbers of our brave men and women in uniform in Iraq can be reduced on a much more aggressive timetable than the one outlined today by General Petraeus.