Washington, D.C. —
Senator John Thune made the following comments today after voting against a Democrat sponsored plan to retreat from Iraq:
"Today I voted against the Democrats' plan to announce to our enemies the time and place of America's surrender because this plan defies common sense, dishonors the sacrifices and progress made by our troops on the ground, and gives our enemies a major victory in this War on Terrorism.
"Before Secretary Rumsfeld was replaced, this war was not being run successfully and we were not making the progress we should have. Secretary Gates and General Petraeus have since changed our strategy in Iraq and by all accounts this new approach appears to be achieving early successes. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and having traveled to Iraq several times, I can tell you that our troops overwhelmingly want the chance to win this war.
"Forcing our troops to retreat ignores their potential for victory and the disastrous consequences of abandoning the region and the threat it would pose to our national security in the future. Our soldiers in the field deserve our unqualified support, not partisan politics.
"I have been, and remain a strong proponent for agriculture disaster relief and I would vote for this bill if it did not telegraph our military strategy to the enemy and force our troops to surrender regardless of conditions on the ground."
"Today I voted against the Democrats' plan to announce to our enemies the time and place of America's surrender because this plan defies common sense, dishonors the sacrifices and progress made by our troops on the ground, and gives our enemies a major victory in this War on Terrorism.
"Before Secretary Rumsfeld was replaced, this war was not being run successfully and we were not making the progress we should have. Secretary Gates and General Petraeus have since changed our strategy in Iraq and by all accounts this new approach appears to be achieving early successes. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and having traveled to Iraq several times, I can tell you that our troops overwhelmingly want the chance to win this war.
"Forcing our troops to retreat ignores their potential for victory and the disastrous consequences of abandoning the region and the threat it would pose to our national security in the future. Our soldiers in the field deserve our unqualified support, not partisan politics.
"I have been, and remain a strong proponent for agriculture disaster relief and I would vote for this bill if it did not telegraph our military strategy to the enemy and force our troops to surrender regardless of conditions on the ground."