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Ending the Iraq War
McDermott Looks to History and Will Introduce Amendment
February 6, 2007
For Immediate Release

Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) announced today that he will introduce legislation aimed at bringing an end to U.S. involvement in the Iraq War patterned after the 1970 McGovern-Hatfield Amendment that marked the turning point in ending the Vietnam War.

"The lesson of history is clear and unmistakable," McDermott said: "The President's escalation of the Iraq War is no different than the escalation of the Vietnam War and the outcome will be the same, more American lives lost." McDermott added, "It is time to begin the end of the Iraq War; the President won't do it; Congress must."

McDermott explained that the McGovern-Hatfield Amendment, although it did not pass, marked a turning point and the beginning of the end of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. The original amendment set a deadline for termination of U.S. military operations, after which funding could only be used for the safe and orderly withdrawal of U.S. forces. McDermott said he will offer a similar amendment when an appropriation request for the Iraq war comes to the House.

McDermott announced his intention in a speech delivered in the House of Representatives today. In it, he recalled the words spoken by Senator George McGovern on September 1, 1970, when the McGovern-Hatfield Amendment was introduced: "It does not take any courage at all for a congressman, or a senator, or a president to wrap himself in the flag and say we are staying in Vietnam, because it is not our blood that is being shed. But we are responsible for those young men and their lives and their hopes.

"And if we do not end this damnable war those young men will some day curse us for our pitiful willingness to let the Executive carry the burden that the Constitution places on us."

McDermott said the President's escalation in Iraq will only cost more U.S. lives lost and called on colleagues to pass the amendment when it is introduced: "I believe we must apply the lessons of history and begin to end a damnable war that never needed to be fought in the first place."