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Skriven 2007-04-24 23:30:56 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (070424a) for Tue, 2007 Apr 24
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Vice President's Remarks on Senator Reid's Comments on Iraq
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For Immediate Release Office of the Vice President April 24, 2007

Vice President's Remarks on Senator Reid's Comments on Iraq Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C.


THE VICE PRESIDENT: I usually avoid press comment when I'm up here, but I
felt so strongly about what Senator Reid said in the last couple of days,
that I thought it was appropriate that I come out today and make a
statement that I think needs to be made.

I thought his speech yesterday was unfortunate, that his comments were
uninformed and misleading. Senator Reid has taken many positions on Iraq.
He has threatened that if the President vetoes the current pending
supplemental legislation, that he will send up Senator Russ Feingold's bill
to de-fund Iraq operations altogether.

Yet only last November, Senator Reid said there would be no cutoff of funds
for the military in Iraq. So in less than six months' time, Senator Reid
has gone from pledging full funding for the military, then full funding but
with conditions, and then a cutoff of funding -- three positions in five
months on the most important foreign policy question facing the nation and
our troops.

Yesterday, Senator Reid said the troop surge was against the
recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. That is plainly false. The Iraq
Study Group report was explicitly favorable toward a troop surge to secure
Baghdad. Senator Reid said there should be a regional conference on Iraq.
Apparently, he doesn't know that there is going to be one next week.
Senator Reid said he doesn't have real substantive meetings with the
President. Yet immediately following last week's meeting at the White
House, he said, "It was a good exchange; everyone voiced their considered
opinion about the war in Iraq."

What's most troubling about Senator Reid's comments yesterday is his
defeatism. Indeed, last week, he said the war is already lost. And the
timetable legislation that he is now pursuing would guarantee defeat.

Maybe it's a political calculation. Some Democratic leaders seem to believe
that blind opposition to the new strategy in Iraq is good politics. Senator
Reid himself has said that the war in Iraq will bring his party more seats
in the next election. It is cynical to declare that the war is lost because
you believe it gives you political advantage. Leaders should make decisions
based on the security interests of our country, not on the interests of
their political party.

Thank you.

END

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