Response to Gen. Petraeus & Ambassador Crocker's Testimony before House Committees

April 9, 2008

Congressman Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) released the following statement concerning General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker’s testimony today in the House of Representatives:

“After today’s testimony I am disappointed at the prospect of maintaining 140,000 troops in after this summer. As a result of this Administration’s commitment to a seemingly indefinite troop presence in we are taking our eye off of Osama Bin Laden in, and I believe that makes less safe today. Since day one, I opposed the War in because our foremost objective should be defeating Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.

“Our operations in are costing us more than $10 billion per month. The instability in our economy is pushing us closer toward a recession. We need to focus our resources on the mortgage crisis and investing in American infrastructure and jobs.

“Our brave troops are serving our nation honorably, and they and their families have sacrificed greatly. But American civilian leadership fails to lead, and the Iraqi government fails to govern.

“We cannot ask our troops to bear this burden indefinitely. Enough is enough. The only leverage to motivate to take control of their country is to begin the responsible redeployment of US troops and to focus on creating a true multi-national reconstruction effort.”