Ellison Resolution Urges President to Accept Iraqi Government Call for a Timetable of U.S. Troop Withdrawal
Washington, D.C. – July 9, 2008
Congressman Keith Ellison introduced a Congressional Resolution urging President Bush to keep his promise to leave Iraq when the Iraqi government asked us to do so.
“Mr. President, you have long said we would stay in Iraq until the day the Iraqis asked us to leave. That day has come. Three days ago, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki spoke before a gathering of Arab Ambassadors and called ‘either for the departure of (U.S.) forces or a memorandum of understanding to put a timetable on their withdrawal’,” Congressman Ellison recalled.
Keith believes we need to send a strong signal to the people of Iraq and the international community that the United States does not seek a long-term or permanent presence in Iraq. In order to attract the regional and international engagement Iraq requires to move forward, the US has to demonstrate that we don’t plan to become permanent occupiers.
“Over four thousand of America’s best and brightest have given the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq in the last five years, and over 30,000 Americans have been gravely wounded. We have borrowed over $535 billion from our children’s future to finance this war – over $340 million per day – enough to fund over 2 million elementary school teachers each year, or provide over 40 million Americans with health care for one year. It’s time to bring our brave troops home and start investing in America again,” Ellison said.
Keith does not agree with Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki’s particular timetable, but they agree on one fundamental point – that the essential next step for Iraq’s progress must be the safe departure of American troops.
In closing, Keith reminded President Bush of the President’s own words, “Mr. President, over four years ago, on April 13, 2004, you stated, ‘As a proud and independent people, Iraqis do not support an indefinite occupation, and neither does America.’ Mr. President, I couldn’t agree with you more and four years later is long overdue to fulfill that obligation.”
Keith was joined by twenty five Members of Congress as original co-sponsors to his Resolution (H Res 1329 - click link to read).