Video of Rep. Lofgren's Remarks Opposing the Iraq War

Media Contact: Kyra Jennings, 202.225.3072, kyra.jennings@mail.house.gov

Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) offered the following remarks on the House Floor today in opposition to the war in Iraq:

For a video of Rep. Lofgren's statement, click on the picture above

"We did not need to invade Iraq. From the beginning, I found President Bush's stated reasons for the Iraq war unconvincing. Now we know they were also untrue.

"At the time the decision was being "sold" to the Congress, I was unable to get any level of assurance that there was a workable plan for victory. There weren't answer to questions like, "What is the strategy for stabilization after the military victory?" or "What is the exit plan?"

"The American forces would be greeted by grateful Iraqis bearing flowers. I was never able to learn what our "Plan B" was if this rosy scenario did not prove out. Now we know there was no "Plan B".

"I voted against the war in Iraq. But even though I opposed the invasion, I never dreamt that the President's policies and course of action would be as disastrous as they have been for Iraq, for the Gulf Region, and for America.

"I think the real question America now faces is: What is the least catastrophic end to this debacle and how can we attain it? Answering such a question would include options of utilizing diplomacy in the region as recommended by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group.

"It would include America calling upon neighboring states to take strong measures to avoid a spread of the conflict beyond Iraq as that nation disintegrates into tribal and sectarian violence. The Saudis are surely aware of the peril and Iran is apparently aware of the prospects.

"But President Bush has once again offered a proposal based upon wishful thinking instead of the unpleasant reality. Having been the cause of the destabilization of Iraq, America has a moral obligation to take what steps are possible to attain new stability. But wanting to create stability within Iraq and being able to accomplish that goal with U.S. military forces is not the same thing.

"That is why I have decided to co-sponsor Rep. John Murtha's resolution, which urges the redeployment of our troops at the earliest practicable date while maintaining a quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon presence of U.S. Marines in the region. Like Rep. Murtha, I feel that the solution to the war in Iraq is a diplomatic one.

"America is not a country that takes disappointment well. Our culture is one where the phrase "failure is not an option" makes sense. That attitude has served us well historically in science, industry, and war. But it can also lead to problems and to decisions based on wishful thinking instead of on fact.

"Political leaders don't want to be the ones to bring this bad news to an American public raised on the phrase "failure is not an option." Some even suspect that the President's escalation plan may have as its primary goal running out the clock so the next President will be the one who has to deliver the bad news.

"Right now, I think another American phrase is better for this situation: "When you're in the hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging." It's time to stop digging. Sending in more troops is not going to bring stability to Iraq because the primary problem between the Iraqis is political, not military.

"We are not going to be met with flowers by the Iraqis today or probably ever. More than 60% of the Iraqi public believes that it is a good thing to attack and kill Americans stationed in Iraq. We have to accept that we are part of the problem in Iraq, not part of the solution.

"Real leadership deals with the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. And here's something to keep in mind -- the American public already knows it's time to stop digging. Now they're ready to hear Congress say it out loud."