(Washington, DC) Congressman Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) released the following statement the passage today of the Iraq supplemental spending bill:
"I voted for this supplemental appropriations bill today, but like many Americans who want to see an end to the war in Iraq, I am not happy about it. In point of fact, I am deeply frustrated and saddened by the prospect. Already, more than 3,400 of our citizens have died in Iraq, and more will die before we withdraw our troops. Congress faces a dilemma that I foresaw four years ago – when President Bush first sent our forces into Iraq – but hoped would not confront us: having to choose either to take the guns out of the hands of our soldiers in the field or to let the President move forward with a misguided and reckless policy.
As one who opposed this war from the start I understand why some Americans argue that the best way to get out of Iraq is to vote today to cut off funding for our troops who are in harm’s way. I respectfully disagree, because that would sacrifice a responsible exit in favor of a rapid one – and in good conscience, I cannot support that any more than I could support the reckless way we were led into this war in the first place.
The better way to end this war in my opinion is to change our policy, and to avoid making an already bad situation worse. In this regard, I intend to introduce strong bipartisan legislation after the Memorial Day recess that will make the Iraq Study Group’s recommendations the policy of Congress. These bipartisan recommendations lay a comprehensive foundation for the phased withdrawal of our troops and a more secure Middle East, and offer the best way to move beyond the current lack of consensus on the way forward in Iraq.