|
|
Herger Opposes Congressional Micromanagement of Mission
in Iraq
April 25, 2007
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congressman Wally Herger today voted against the conference
report on H.R. 1591, a wartime spending measure that would provide additional
funding for the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also establish troop
withdrawal timelines on the mission in Iraq. The vote occurred the same
day General Petraeus, our nation's top commander in Iraq, briefed participating
members of Congress on the security situation in Iraq. Herger made the
following statement regarding his opposition to the bill:
"I oppose the wartime supplemental measure as currently written because
it would micromanage our mission in Iraq," Herger stated. "General
Petraeus is an expert in counterinsurgency and is battle-tested in Iraq.
He and fellow commanders in Iraq are better qualified than members of
Congress to make sound military decisions. I attended General Petraeus'
briefing today on the situation in Iraq, and have confidence in his ability
to implement the new security plan. About sixty percent of the combat
troops implementing this plan have entered Baghdad. We must give the plan
sufficient time to succeed.
"The Constitution provides members of Congress who believe our mission
in Iraq is 'lost' with the power to cut off funding," continued Herger.
"Congress also has every right to counsel the President and commanders
about military operations. However, the Constitution does not envision
armchair generals in Congress micromanaging the conduct of war. Arbitrary
troop withdrawal timelines established by Congress and defeatist rhetoric
tell the enemy that we're focused on leaving Iraq, not winning in Iraq.
I will support the President's certain veto of this legislation, and urge
the new majority to draft a revised measure that respects our military
commanders and fully funds our men and women in uniform."
The conference report on H.R. 1591 would mandate that U.S. troop withdrawal
from Iraq begin by October 2007, and establish a goal of withdrawing most
troops by the end of March 2008.
|
|
|
