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Correspondence from Senator Reid |
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Written by Steve Sanson
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Friday, 11 May 2007 |
Regarding recent comments on Iraq
Mr. Steve Sanson
Post Office Box 28211
Las Vegas, Nevada 89126-2211
Dear Mr. Sanson:
Thank you for contacting me regarding my recent comments on the situation in Iraq. I appreciate hearing from you.
Our troops have battled courageously in Iraq for over four years. They toppled a dictator and have helped to rebuild a war torn nation. But now, they are caught in a civil war between warring Iraqi religious and political factions. As General Petraeus has said, the conflict in Iraq is not one that can be won solely through the application of U.S. military power. It is, by contrast, one that the Iraqis must settle themselves through political reconciliation and through compromises that they have unfortunately been unwilling to make.
Meanwhile, the President continues to escalate our military presence in Iraq, but he has not addressed the need for political, economic, regional and diplomatic solutions. The President's path increasingly imperils our long-term national security, as it allows the Iraqi leadership to escape accountability for their actions, while allowing other threats around the world, such as in Afghanistan, to go unaddressed as our military battles on in Iraq.
The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act (H.R. 1591) fully supports the troops by providing more than $100 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, an increase of $4 billion over President's request. It also recognizes that, in order to responsibly end the war, we must change course. Under this legislation, the phased redeployment of our troops would begin no later than October 1, 2007, with a goal of removing all combat forces by April 1, 2008, except for those carrying out security, training and counter-terror operations. Lastly, this bill ensures our troops are combat-ready before being deployed to Iraq, and provides them with all the resources needed on the battlefield and when they return. I was disappointed the President vetoed this bill, but we are working hard to craft a compromise that gives our troops every resource they need, as well as a strategy worthy of their sacrifice.
Please be assured that no one wants to succeed in Iraq and the broader Middle East more than I do, but success will be difficult to achieve under the President's plan. That is why I will continue to fight to change course in Iraq, so we can stabilize that nation and so our troops, including hundreds of Nevadans, can begin to come home.
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. For more information about my work for Nevada, my role in the United States Senate Leadership, or to subscribe to regular e-mail updates on the issues that interest you, please visit my Web site at http://reid.senate.gov. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
My best wishes to you.
Sincerely,
A
HARRY REID
United States Senator
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