Wednesday 25 July 2007

"The Democratic Congress will go on record - every day if
necessary - to register a judgment in opposition to the course of action that
the President is taking in Iraq. The Democratic Congress will go on record -
every day if necessary - to fight for a redeployment of our forces as the
central element of a New Direction strategy for Iraq." - Speaker Pelosi,
7/25/07

    Today, the House passed H.R. 2929, Banning Permanent
U.S. Bases in Iraq. This bill states that it is the policy of the United States
not to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing
a permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq. It also states
that it is the policy of the United States not to exercise U.S. control of the
oil resources of Iraq. The measure bars the use of any funds provided by any law
from being used to carry out any policy that contradicts these statements of
policy.

    While the Bush Administration has indicated it would
not seek permanent bases in Iraq, Administration officials have recently
remarked that the President envisioned a continued military presence in Iraq
similar to our presence in Korea, where U.S. forces have been stationed for more
than 50 years. Speaker Pelosi explained that "today's vote can again make clear
to the President, to the Administration, to the American people, to the people
in the Middle East, to the people in Iraq - that the American people are opposed
to a permanent military presence in Iraq."