Statement by Congressman Ruppersberger About H.R. 557, The Iraq Resolution

Washington, DC - Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Maryland) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today in favor of H.R. 557, the Iraq Resolution, honoring the heroic service and dedication of our Armed Forces in Iraq. The Congressman also took issue with the partisan drafting of the resolution that aimed to divide Congress and the American people not unite them.

The following is Congressman Ruppersberger's statement as prepared.

"I will support this resolution as an expression of our nation's gratitude and pride in our men and women in uniform who were ordered to war in Iraq by their Commander In Chief. Whether you are for or against the war, the fact is we are there now and we need to support our troops. These military service members are working around the clock to make Iraq a better place for the Iraqi people. Many of them have left their young families behind to serve their country. They deserve our thanks especially here in Congress."

"I recently returned from Iraq as part of a bi-partisan group of members from the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. I truly believe that good intelligence is the best way to prevent terrorist attacks in our country as well as in Iraq. The members of our Intelligence Community are working on the dangerous front lines of this war to try and protect our troops. They also deserve our gratitude. They serve in silence and get little thanks."

"I was proud to join with my Republican Colleagues and visit the Iraqi police training academy and honor 23 Iraqi police officers killed in a recent bombing. Even in the face of tragedy, the resolve of the Iraqi people to take back their country and start governing themselves was truly amazing. We need to finish what we started in Iraq and give the country back to its people."

"This resolution should have simply expressed our support for our Armed Forces working and living in harm's way. Regrettably, however, the Majority has handled this resolution in a manner intended to divide us not unite us. I share the view that the world and in particular the Middle East are better off without Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime, but success must be our only exit strategy. When those goals are accomplished, we can say with certainty that the world is a safer place. We owe our military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in Iraq nothing less!"

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