July 23, 2007— Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) made the following remarks today in response to the recent exchange between the Department of Defense and Senator Hillary Clinton on her recent public assertions that the Department of Defense disclose any contingency plans for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.

“Senator Clinton’s comments on this issue were profoundly inappropriate." Franks stated.  “The Department of Defense has told us repeatedly that public statements about a withdrawal from Iraq based on a political timetable have real and unspeakably dangerous ramifications on the battlefield.

“Not only does it galvanize enemy forces and endanger our troops on the ground, but it makes it increasingly difficult for our allies to support us, and undercuts the very reason for which the Department of Defense exists.  The Pentagon fully realizes that the lives of our warfighters and our national security is at stake; and if anything, its response was restrained.

“As an elected official, Senator Clinton must realize that these types of comments are monitored by our enemies as well as her political allies, and that to undermine our Defense Department, generals, and warfighters undermines the very cause of freedom, all for the sake of political expediency."

In response to Senator Clinton’s recent demand that the Pentagon detail how it is planning to redeploy U.S. military forces from Iraq, Eric Edelman, the Defense Department's undersecretary for policy, responded with a letter saying such discussions strengthen the enemy.

"Premature and public discussion of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq reinforces enemy propaganda that the United States will abandon its allies in Iraq, much as we are perceived to have done in Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia," Edelman said.

He added, "Such talk understandably unnerves the very same Iraqi allies we are asking to assume enormous personal risks."