REP. ANDREWS VOTES TO CHANGE DIRECTION IN IRAQ:House Backs Measure to Responsibly Redeploy American Troops

Last week I joined a majority in the House of Representatives to back legislation to change direction in Iraq. The Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act was passed by a vote of 223-201 and requires American forces to begin redeploying within 120 days and to complete the transition to a limited presence in Iraq by April 1, 2008.

Below is my official statement:

Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.
   I support this legislation because it will make America safer. Our safety depends upon stability in Iraq.
   Now, there are two ways to achieve stability in Iraq. The first is to prop up the present government and hope it succeeds.
   That has failed. The best evidence of that failure is from Iraqi leaders themselves. Last weekend, a Shiite Member of Iraq's legislature said, in the absence of enough security forces, authorities should help residents arm themselves for their own protection. The Sunni president of Iraq said, people have a right to expect from the government and security agencies protection for their lives, land, honor and property, Mr. al-Hashemi said. But in the case of the inability of Iraqi security forces, the people have no choice but to take up their own defense.
   This government has failed, and we are spending the precious blood of our sons and daughters to prop it up.
   The second way to achieve stability in Iraq is to compel a political solution. This resolution will do that. It deserves our support.  

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