House Proceeding on Feb 14th, 2007 :: 4:04:35 to 4:09:55
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4:04:19 to 4:04:35( Edit History Discussion )

Ike Skelton: many of us have grieved with the families that have lost a loved one at gravesite back at our districts. mr. speaker, we had a breakthrough this week in north korea. it was a diplomatic success.

4:04:35 to 4:04:53( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: our country led the effort to engage other countries in the region, russia, south korea, japan, and china. the six-party talks helped negotiate a settlement that made sense and the world today is

4:04:35 to 4:09:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Martin T. Meehan

4:04:53 to 4:05:09( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: a better and safer place. simpacy won again. -- diplomacy won again. one of our big problems in iraq is that we have not pursued the diplomatic angle like we should have. we haven't seen a diplomatic

4:05:09 to 4:05:26( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: surge like we ought to. let's talk about this resolution. the first finding of course is that the congress and the public will continue to support and protect those serving in iraq. that tells

4:05:26 to 4:05:49( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: me that we are not going to cut off the aid for the -- brave folks that are there. it's almost a daily routine for me when i see a man or woman in uniform at the airport, the cafeteria, at home,

4:05:49 to 4:06:03( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: anywhere, bethesda, walter reed hospital that i take a moment and thank them for their sacrifice and their service. our troops need all of the equipment to make sure that their safety can

4:06:03 to 4:06:21( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: be as secure as it can be. this week i emailed a number of our troops that i have met that are overseas. i talked about this resolution, including the policy of the surge. and many of them

4:06:21 to 4:06:39( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: responded at length and i want to share part of their stories and responses without using their names. one of my army captains said this, bringing in more americans will force us into more

4:06:39 to 4:06:56( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: confrontational roles. this is not the way to win. more american soldiers on the ground will not win the war. it will only delay the enemy's reaction. if the people do not believe that their

4:06:56 to 4:07:11( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: government can protect them, they will look for one that they believe will. mr. speaker, these folks are on the ground. they know what's going on. the generals on the ground, too, said that more u.s. troops

4:07:11 to 4:07:31( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: would be counterproductive and in fact only increase or deepen the threats on our u.s. troops. let's face it, this is a civil war. it is real anarchy. and in fact the iraqis don't want us there.

4:07:31 to 4:07:46( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: nearly 80% of them in baghdad say that the american troops provoke more violence than they prevent. and these same polls show that iraq's overwhelm -- iraqis overwhelmingly want u.s. troops

4:07:46 to 4:08:06( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: gone within a year. in fact we know that a majority on both sides, shiah and sunni, believe that it's ok to kill our troops. so much for ack liberator. in other words, reviewed as part of the problem

4:08:06 to 4:08:19( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: not the solution. mr. speaker, all of us, all of us support our troops, but there are many of us that believe that this surge strategy will fail and will only prolong the day that the iraqis will finally

4:08:19 to 4:08:35( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: pick up the baton and lead their own government. the baker-hamilton unanimous bipartisan report labeled the situation as grave and deteriorating. it called for regional cooperation and a new

4:08:35 to 4:08:52( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: direction. mr. speaker, i'm one that believes that the vote authorizing the war was based on evidence that was flat out wrong. let's not continue to ignore the real situation and the mistakes of the past.

4:08:52 to 4:09:07( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: it is time, it is time for the iraqis not the united states to lead after four years. we need to send a message to our troops that, yes, we support them and for this administration , a signal for

4:09:07 to 4:09:21( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: them to pursue a diplomatic surge involving the region. for these reasons i, too, support the resolution. and i yield my time back to the gentleman from north carolina. the speaker pro tempore:

4:09:21 to 4:09:37( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from north carolina. mr. jones: how much time do i have? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. jones: mr.

4:09:37 to 4:09:55( Edit History Discussion )

Martin T. Meehan: speaker, first i would like to thank chairman skelton, chairman lantos for allowing me to be part of this resolution. h.con. resolution 63. i also want to thank the 10 republicans who came

4:09:55 to 4:10:07( Edit History Discussion )

Heather Wilson: to the floor to join me today to support this resolution. in closing i want to again say this resolution is simple and to the point. the most important point is to say thank you men and women in