For Immediate Release:
Monday, December 12, 2005

Last Wednesday in Annapolis, Md., the President presented a glimpse of his plan for the war in Iraq.  The President's speech was a step in the right direction in addressing the need for a successful exit strategy.  The call for a clear mission and a strategy to reduce American troop levels in accordance with accomplishments is now greater than ever.  For the sake of our troops and their commitment to the mission in Iraq, I am hopeful the Administration will set forth specific benchmarks to ensure clear objectives and measure success accordingly. 

 

Despite the effort of some to politicize this issue, I strongly share the President’s vision of an Iraq able to provide for its own security.  Though I respect my colleagues in Congress, I disagree with those calling for an immediate withdrawal by preset timelines.  Leaving Iraq before the job is complete would be disastrous – allowing terrorist insurgents to simply wait until an American deadline passes and then rise to power.  Benchmarks, on the other hand, set clear and achievable objectives for our military and instill a sense of accomplishment in our troops. 

 

Both Americans and Iraqis alike must have a clear sense of progress, especially while the challenges to stability and security still remain high. The Iraqi forces must be adequately trained and able to defend their homeland against insurgents.  Only then will they begin to inspire the confidence of the Iraqi people.  Similarly, the American people need to see measurable progress in the capability of Iraqi security forces, and understand its connection to diminishing American involvement over time.     

We can all agree on the broader goals of building democracy in Iraq and throughout the Middle East, but that does not give our military commanders a clear and well defined mission.  It also says nothing of when American troops can expect to begin returning home to their families.  Without a clear strategic plan to achieve success, we run the risk of overwhelming troop and logistical supplies, as well as jeopardizing our ability to respond in the event of another security crisis.    

In the meantime, we need to make sure our resources are allocated appropriately to training Iraqi security forces.  If increasing the number of U.S. military advisory teams to train Iraqis would do the job faster, we should add them.  The mission in Iraq carries a hefty price tag, and we must make sure that our resources are devoted to the priorities that will bring our troops home sooner and make Iraq able to provide for its own. 

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I hope to soon hear the Administration provide the specific benchmarks we expect to achieve, and how we expect to achieve them.  Training the Iraqi security forces to neutralize the insurgency will strengthen Iraq’s economy and allow a more robust political process to take root.  As this happens, we can expect to see greater international support for Iraq and begin to see our men and women in uniform return home.  We owe it to our troops to determine a realistic goal and commit the resources to achieving it.  It’s the least we can do in return for the bravery and sacrifices of our troops and their dedicated families.

Rep. Dan Boren (D-Muskogee) represents Oklahoma’s Second Congressional District.

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