I offer this simply as information. You know where I stand, I expect that most of our readers are fully in agreement. This is not about politics. This is about preventing a disastrous course of action. So I offer, without comment, some excerpts from each of Nebraska’s Senators and Representatives statements on President Bush’s plan, as well as contact information. You may read the entire press release by clicking on the links.
I am opposed to the escalation of American involvement in Iraq, including more U.S. troops. This is a dangerously wrong-headed strategy that will drive America deeper into an unwinnable swamp at a great cost. It is wrong to place American troops into the middle of Iraq’s civil war. It is not in America’s national interest to increase our troop presence in Iraq. The President’s strategy will cost more American lives, sink us deeper into the bog of Iraq making it more difficult to get out, cost billions of dollars more, further strain an American military that has already reached its breaking point, further diminish America’s standing in the Middle East, and continue to allow the Iraqis to walk away from their responsibilities. The fate of Iraq will be determined by the Iraqis—not the Americans. We have already given four years, thousands of lives, and hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to Iraq.
Washington, D.C. Office
248 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-4224
Fax: (202) 224-5213
Omaha Office
9900 Nicholas St.
Suite 325
Omaha, NE 68114
Tel: (402) 758-8981
Fax: (402) 758-9165
Tonight the president outlined a new plan for the U.S. mission in Iraq. I agree with his approach to establish benchmarks for progress – or conditions for staying – for the Iraqi government to meet. I also believe the push for job creation is prudent because it could accomplish much in the effort to reduce violence.
I am trying to maintain an open mind, however, I cannot ignore the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group and our senior military leaders who have all but unanimously said that sending more troops to Iraq is not the answer. After two meetings at the White House in the last five days, I am not convinced that sending in an additional 21,000 troops will quell the sectarian violence or stabilize Baghdad.
Washington, D.C.
720 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-6551
Fax: (202) 228-0012
Omaha
7602 Pacific St.
Ste 205
Omaha, NE 68114
Tel: (402) 391-3411
Fax: (402) 391-4725
Representative Lee Terry (NE-02): e-mail
This is perceptibly a decisive point for President Bush’s tactics and vision in Iraq. The new strategy is ‘all in’.
While I appreciate the President being contrite, my focus is whether we are going in a new direction that will allow us to more quickly secure Iraq, stabilize the region, and then begin bringing our troops home. If adding 20,000 additional troops to properly train and support Iraqi security forces will accomplish those goals, then I support the President’s plan.
Hopefully, this plan will get us to that point sooner rather than later.
Omaha: 11717 Burt Street, Suite 106, Omaha, NE 68154 (402)397-9944
Washington: 1524 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202)225-4155
Adrian Smith (NE-03) and Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) have not issued official statements on Bush’s plan. They are quoted in this World-Herald article:
Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., said he was happy to see a shift in strategy.
“With the president’s plan,” he said, “I expect to see the Iraqi government start participating in the cleanup of insurgencies and other security measures.”
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., called Wednesday one of the most difficult days since he came to Congress.
He said he was glad the president has embraced a move he already had called for – moving significant numbers of battle-ready Iraqi troops into the middle of the battle for Baghdad.
“They must fight for their own country now,” Fortenberry said. “The moment is now.”
Adrian Smith:
Washington D.C. Office
503 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone:(202) 225-6435
Fax:(202) 225-0207
Scottsbluff Office
416 Valley View Drive, Suite 600
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
Phone:(308) 632-3333
Fax:(308) 635-3049
Jeff Fortenberry: e-mail
Washington DC Office
1517 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4806
Fax: 202-225-5686
Lincoln Office
301 South 13th Street,
Suite 100 Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: 402-438-1598
Fax: 402-438-1604
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