TANNER STATEMENT ON IRAQ

'Can only try to force a square peg into a round hole for so long'
if Iraqis won't set aside differences to build civil society

WASHINGTON -- Congressman John Tanner made the following remarks after President Bush’s address to the nation about Iraq.

“Any viable Iraq strategy must contain clearly defined goals to hold the Iraqi leaders accountable for taking over their own security and hold the Pentagon accountable for its management of the costs, in terms of manpower, troop casualties and taxpayer funding. Our men and women in uniform have performed magnificently, completing every task assigned them, but our impressive military might alone is not enough if the Iraqi people cannot or will not make progress in securing their own country and establishing a civil democracy.

“Western-style democracy works because of the separation between church and state and the ability of citizens to attend different church services on the weekend but still get along peaceably the rest of the week. The Iraqi people have thus far been unable or unwilling to set aside their religious differences to build a civil society. We can only try to force a square peg into a round hole for so long.

“If the Iraqi people do not prove themselves capable or willing to get along and take responsibility for their own security, then a pullback of American troops from combat zones to the perimeters is preferable to prolonging a costly and deadly military strategy toward a political goal that seems increasingly out of reach.

“With or without this new strategy, I am glad to see General David Petraeus will be commanding our men and women on the ground in Iraq. Gen. Petraeus proved himself a strong military leader during his tenure as Commander of the 101^st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell.”

U.S. Rep. John Tanner represents Tennessee’s 8^th district in West and Middle Tennessee. He served four years in the U.S. Navy and 26 years in the Tennessee Army National Guard, from which he retired in 2000 at the rank of Colonel.

Tanner is the top-ranking Democrat in the U.S. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the civilian arm of the NATO alliance, and chairs the organization’s Economics and Security Committee.

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Contact: Randy Ford, 202.225.4714