House Democrat Brian Baird: Precipitous Withdrawal From Iraq "Would be a Tragic Waste & a Lasting Strategic Blunder"

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Leader Alert

House Democrat Brian Baird: Precipitous Withdrawal From Iraq "Would be a Tragic Waste & a Lasting Strategic Blunder"
In Seattle Times Op-Ed This Morning, Baird Makes Case for Continuing the Mission in Iraq, Details Progress He's Witnessed Firsthand on the Ground

Washington, Aug 24, 2007 - Reflecting an ongoing splintering of congressional Democrats over the success of the military surge in Iraq, in an op-ed in this morning’s Seattle Times, Democratic Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) continued making the case for why he now supports giving our troops the time and resources they need to finish their fight against al Qaeda. Noting that a precipitous withdrawal from Iraq “would be a tragic waste and a strategic blunder,” Baird details his reasons for bucking his party leaders on the surge. Following are excerpts of Baird’s op-ed:

Rep. Baird on the reasons for his change of heart on the success of the surge and the importance of letting our troops complete their mission:

“[H]ow can someone who opposed the war now call for continuing the new directions that have been taken in Iraq? The answer is that the people, strategies and facts on the ground have changed for the better and those changes justify changing our position on what should be done.”

Rep. Baird on the improved security in Iraq, as well as the initial steps toward political reconciliation:

“Our soldiers are reclaiming ground and capturing or killing high-priority targets on a daily basis. Sheiks and tribal groups are uniting to fight against the extremists and have virtually eliminated al-Qaida from certain areas. The Iraqi military and police are making progress in their training, taking more responsibility for bringing the fight to the insurgents and realizing important victories. Businesses and factories that were once closed are being reopened and people are working again. The infrastructure is gradually being repaired and markets are returning to life.”

Rep. Baird on what he’s heard from soldiers during his recent trip to Iraq:

“As one soldier said to me, ‘We have lost so many good people and invested so much, it just doesn’t make sense to quit now when we’re finally making progress. I want to go home as much as anyone else, but I want this mission to succeed and I’m willing to do what it takes. I just want to know the people back home know we’re making progress and support us.’”

Rep. Baird on General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker:

“I trust and respect Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker. I have seen firsthand the progress they have made, and I firmly believe we must give them the time and resources they need to succeed.”

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) was exactly right last month when he admitted that a positive report on the surge would be “a real big problem” for congressional Democrats. He was talking, however, about a report from General Petraeus. The fact that his own rank-and-file Members are lining up against Democratic leaders is even a bigger problem for them.

As Rep. Baird and others on his side of the aisle continue to make the case for letting our troops continue the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq, the Speaker of the House and other House Democratic leaders are faced with a difficult choice. Do they continue to ignore them, will they move the goalposts and change their rhetoric on the surge, or will they listen to them and finally listen to the Generals by acknowledging the progress of our troops?

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HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner