FROM HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI - April 20,2007

The American People Are Ready For a New Direction In Iraq

This week, the House appointed conferees on the Iraq Accountability Act for reconciliation with the Senate version of the emergency supplemental. The legislation that Congress will send to the President’s desk supports our troops, honors our commitments to our veterans, holds the Iraqi government accountable, and provides for a responsible redeployment from Iraq.

Democrats are ready to work with the President to change the direction in Iraq, but the President must accept the facts and put aside partisan attacks and heated rhetoric:

Fact 1: The Pentagon confirms Congressional Research Service report saying the White House claim that Congress is delaying the funding for the troops is false. “The Pentagon says it has enough money to pay for the Iraq war through June, despite warnings from the White House that troops are being harmed by Congress’ failure to quickly deliver more funds.” [AP, 4/19/07]

Fact 2: Today, the President’s own Defense Secretary. Robert Gates, once again said that we cannot have an open-ended commitment in Iraq: “I’m sympathetic with some of the challenges that they [the Iraqis] face…[But] the clock is ticking.” [AP, 4/19/07]

Fact 3: Fully 70 percent disapprove of the way the President Bush is handling the war, and six in 10 Americans trust Democrats in Congress over the President on the war. [ABC News/Washington Post, 4/16/07; CNN Poll, 4/18/07]

The President continues to push for a war without end, while the American people believe it is time for a new direction. Democrats want to work together with the President to responsibly wind down this war.

House Democratic Leaders call President’s attention to crucial facts in Iraq war debate>>