As part of the ongoing floor debate on the Iraq War resolution, Rep. Tim Walz delivered the following statement on the floor of the House of Representatives:
"No debate in this house has been longer overdue. This debate has been going on for nearly four years in homes, work places, grocery stores, and houses of worship all over America. No greater responsibility rests with us, the people's representatives, than debating the decisions involved in waging a war. The decision to send our brave women and men into combat is not the end of our responsibility, but rather the beginning of it. This body has a sacred duty to protect this nation, our citizens, and especially those we send into combat in our name. Constant vigilance, questioning, and adjustments to courses of action are our number one priority and this newly elected Congress intends to do just that.
Some have said that this debate "sends a message to our enemies", and I would agree. The message they are hearing this week is that democracy in America is alive and well. The message they are hearing is that this nation will not live in fear of its own shadow and blindly give away those precious liberties that make this the greatest nation the world has ever known. The message they are hearing is that this nation is able and willing to adjust its tactics to focus on the true threats to our security which come from al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and by securing our ports and borders. The message they are hearing is that this nation is no longer willing to wage war based on ideology and failed policy, but will now wage it based on facts and reality.
Many of my colleagues have spoken of the need to support our troops. On this point you will get no debate from me or any other American citizen. By implying that some don't support the troops based on nothing more than political posturing is cynical and divisive. For more than two decades I served in our Armed Forces and worked with soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines from all walks of life. Not once did I see these brave men and women as anything but patriots. Not once did I view them as Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, or any other political name nor did they view me as anything other than a soldier.
The issue we are debating this week is the execution of this war and the failure of this administration to provide a realistic plan for success. From the start of this war up to this recent plan to send more Americans into Baghdad this administration has miscalculated, poorly planned, shifted blame, and failed to couple our military policies with diplomatic, economic, and the long range strategic planning that would have given our brave soldiers a plan for success. Had the previous Congress done its constitutional duty of oversight and accountability there is a strong likelihood we would be in much better position than we are today. Even as foreign policy experts, military experts, Congress, and the American public show an overwhelming desire to change course and oppose this escalation, this administration ignores all evidence and stumbles on. This debate marks the beginning of this new Congresses acceptance of our duty to provide that oversight and bring about policy changes based in reality, facts, and long range security needs of this nation.
I have taken two oaths in my life. The first was as a 17 year old young man and that was the oath taken as I joined the Army National Guard. The second was as a 42 year older man and that was when I became a United States Congressman. In both cases I solemnly swore my allegiance to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. I swore no allegiance to any man. I swore no allegiance to any political ideology. I swore only to uphold the laws of this great land and protect with my life the liberties and freedoms we so dearly cherish. This debate today is about exactly that oath. Previous congresses gave the president the authority to conduct this war in Iraq, not the authority to disregard expert advice, not the authority to take civil liberties from American citizens, not the authority to disregard our constitutional right as a co-equal branch of government. I, like all Americans, wish that this president had made good decisions and that the situation in Iraq was better. Unfortunately, wishful thinking does not make good foreign policy. Fortunately the genius of our founders is once again on display in this debate. This congress, by taking this first step of oversight and accountability and passing this resolution, will begin to right the ship and take this country on a path that will lead to greater security and begin to return our brave men and women back to their families.
Yesterday I visited with two soldiers from my old unit, The 34th Red Bull Division. These two young men are at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Both John and Tony are being fitted with prosthetic limbs for those that they left behind in Iraq. We spoke of everything from how they were injured, to football, and their desire to ski again. I don't know and I don't care about their political ideology and I only care that this nation honors its commitment by providing everything possible for these brave Americans. Today is the day we tell Tony and John that we will always support you and we will provide this nation true security."
Very good speech by Congressman Walz.
Posted by: PoliticalCritic | February 15, 2007 at 06:35 PM