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Washington, DC -- Yesterday, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th district) returned from a trip to the Middle East and renewed his call for a change in American foreign policy. Congressman Murphy supports a surge in diplomacy rather than an escalation of military forces. He is the original co-sponsor of binding legislation that will set a timeline for redeploying American troops from Iraq – some of whom to Afghanistan to ward off the resurgent Taliban. Congressman Murphy is a former U.S. Army Captain and Iraq war veteran with the 82nd Airborne Division in Baghdad. On his trip, Congressman Murphy joined five other members of Congress in visiting Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq. They met with key leaders in each of those countries as well as the new leadership in Iraq and Afghanistan and American soldiers stationed overseas.
“The American soldiers I met with were glad to know that one of their own was fighting for them in Washington,” said Congressman Patrick Murphy. “Seeing what they see on the ground will give me even more perspective for the congressional debate and hearings on Iraq and Afghanistan in the coming days.”
On the trip, organized by Rep. Norm Dix (D-WA), Murphy joined other Reps. Chris Carney (D-PA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) and Steve Rothman (D-NJ).
“Right now American troops are being overstretched while the Bush administration refuses to do the diplomacy we need and while too many Iraqis are still on the sidelines. We need to set a timeline to redeploy our troops so that Iraqis stand up and fight for their country,” added Murphy.
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