Pelosi: Extending Tours of Duty Is an Unacceptable Price for Our Troops and Their Families

Washington, D.C.--Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Bush Administration's announcement that all active-duty Army personnel in Iraq will serve 15-month tours, three months longer than usual:

'Today's announcement just underscores the fact that the burden of the war in Iraq has fallen upon our troops and their families.  The Bush Administration has failed to create a plan to fully equip and train our troops, bring them home safely and soon, and provide our veterans with the quality care they deserve.

'Extending the tours of all active-duty Army personnel is an unacceptable price for our troops and their families to pay.

'Democrats have offered a new direction in Iraq - one that would bring our troops home safely and soon.  We encourage President Bush to sit down with us to find a solution to bring this war to an end.'