Boehner: Don’t ‘Turn the Page’ on Our Troops in Iraq

KEY QUOTE: “Over the past several months, we’ve often heard about ending the war in Iraq, but not much about winning the war in Iraq.  If we honor what our men and women fought for, we cannot turn our backs now on what they have achieved. When we support our troops, we support them all the way — there is no such thing as supporting our troops, but not their mission.”

Don’t ‘Turn the Page’ on Our Troops in Iraq
John Boehner | September 01, 2010
Military.com

Last night in his Oval Office address to the nation, our Commander-in-Chief said it’s time to “turn the page” on our country’s current mission in Iraq.  While we welcome the shift from a combat role to an advisory and assistance mission for the Iraqi government and its security forces, let’s not forget that we still have 50,000 American troops serving in harm’s way separated by distance and danger from their families.

For the troops that remain in Iraq today, and for their families, the war will not be over until they come home.   And though the mission has changed, their work remains as critical today as it has ever been.

There is no stronger bulwark against the menace posed by the Iranian regime and other extremist forces in the region than a democratic Iraq.  There is no greater inspiration to moderate governments and reformers in the region than a successful Iraq.  And there is no better argument against those who preach intolerance and hatred than a free, stable, thriving Iraq.

That is why our mission in Iraq remains critically important.  The United States must maintain an active role in helping the Iraqi government build, foster, and sustain institutions that build national unity within the country. Iraqi political parties and leaders must end the political stalemate that has stalled the formation of a new government in Baghdad. Iraq is critical to our immediate and long-term national security interests, and we must protect the economic, political, and security progress that has been made.

The hard truth is that Iraq will continue to remain a target for those who hope to destroy freedom and democracy.  The Iraqi people — and the American people — deserve to know what we are prepared to do if the cause for which our troops sacrificed their lives is threatened.  It was disappointing that the President didn’t address that question last night when he spoke to the nation, and the world.

The President thanked our troops for their courage and sacrifice, and all that they have accomplished, as he should.  But I am disappointed that the President didn’t use his speech as an opportunity to articulate in a coherent, consistent manner to our troops, their families and fellow citizens the cause, purpose, and goal of our mission in Iraq.  Because no voice — no matter how strong or committed — can substitute for the voice of our country’s Commander-in-Chief.

As I said in a speech at the American Legion National Convention yesterday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, these imperatives should not be communicated in the manner of ‘checking a box.’ Our mission in Iraq, as well as the one in Afghanistan, should not be bunched together among a laundry list of political challenges.

The surge of troops that President Bush announced in 2007 paved the way for this progress.  Ironically, those leaders who opposed, criticized, and fought tooth-and-nail to stop the surge strategy now proudly claim credit for the results.  But it is our troops who deserve the credit, along with their commanders, General David Petraeus and General Ray Odierno.

I released a video last week thanking our troops and their families, and reminding Americans of all that they have done to help bring stability and security to the Iraqi people.

Over the past several months, we’ve often heard about ending the war in Iraq, but not much about winning the war in Iraq.  If we honor what our men and women fought for, we cannot turn our backs now on what they have achieved.

When we support our troops, we support them all the way — there is no such thing as supporting our troops, but not their mission.

Victory in Iraq was the only option in 2007 — and it is the only option now.

Read the original story at John Boehner for Congres