January 11, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, issued the following statement in response to President Bush's address to the nation on Iraq:

"The President's statement indicates that he has ignored the advice of his generals, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group which he appointed, Republicans and Democrats in Congress and the American people. Where are the new ideas? Where are the timelines for the Iraqi government to take over responsibility for the security of their country?
 
"Our troops have fought valiantly for nearly four years in a war longer than World War II. Before committing more troops, the burden is on the President to prove that his so-called new strategy will actually stabilize Iraq without damaging our military readiness and undermining our national security.
 
"The Congress has a constitutional duty to scrutinize the President's policy and the funding, and we shall do so. We have a moral duty to our troops and their families not to put them at risk to prolong a failed policy."