Hinchey Statement On Iraq Study Group Report

Washington, DC -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today released the following statement in response to the release of the Iraq Study Group's report.  The report said that conditions in Iraq are "grave and deteriorating" and recommended that the U.S. withdraw the majority of its troops from Iraq by early 2008.

"The Iraq Study Group's report confirms what many of us have been saying for far too long: the situation in Iraq is 'grave and deteriorating' and it is time for a dramatic change in U.S. policy in Iraq.  The report also makes it clear that sectarian violence is responsible for the vast majority of Iraq's instability, not al Qaeda as the Bush administration continues to suggest.  Iraq was not involved with al Qaeda's attack on September 11 and that claim should have never been used as justification for invading Iraq since it is untrue.  That said, regardless of whether one supported the war in Iraq or opposed it, I hope this report's findings prove to everyone that the current course for Iraq is disastrous and the country undoubtedly needs to move in a new, better direction. 

"The first step in creating that new, better direction must be to develop a plan to begin the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.  The United States must establish the end of 2007 as a firm timetable for withdrawal.  The Iraq Study Group comes close to that, but does not go far enough by recommending that the majority of U.S. troops should be out of Iraq by early 2008.  President Bush must take this report along with the recommendations of the new majority party in Congress to heart and abandon his steadfast position of staying the course that so far has facilitated civil war and resulted in the death of 2,900 Americans and horrible injuries to more than 22,000 troops.

"This report provides a fresh opportunity for finding a way out of Iraq that will help stabilize that country.  I hope that Democrats and Republicans can use this bipartisan report to come together and finally develop a viable exit strategy for the United States that will also help strengthen Iraq by having our troops adequately train Iraqi forces in securing their country.  While I didn't agree with the war from the start, I recognize that we can't immediately pack up our bags and leave, but we also can't afford to become further entrenched in a quagmire that is spiraling out of control.  The U.S. must work together with Iraq and its neighbors to develop a diplomatic plan that will help end the violence that is ravaging Iraq.  As the new report says, shifting away from military action and towards regional diplomatic efforts will help steer Iraq in a new and better direction."