Tom Harkin on General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker

2008-04-09T14:23:00Z

Yesterday, Senator Tom Harkin issued the following statement after General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker testified before Congress

“I, along with millions of Americans, waited today to hear General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker propose a clear strategy for our nation’s mission in Iraq – something we have been waiting to hear from this Administration for years. Unfortunately, we heard more of the same.”
Yesterday, Senator Tom Harkin issued the following statement after General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker testified before Congress

“I, along with millions of Americans, waited today to hear General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker propose a clear strategy for our nation’s mission in Iraq – something we have been waiting to hear from this Administration for years. Unfortunately, we heard more of the same.”

“The simple truth is that keeping our brave soldiers mired in the Iraqi civil war is breaking our military, bankrupting our treasury, and making our country less safe. Iraq needs a political solution, which only Iraqis can provide, to bring real stability and security to their country.”

“There will be more troops in Iraq this summer than when the temporary surge began more than a year ago. Even General Petraeus admits there is no military solution in Iraq, so keeping 142,000 troops there is not the answer. The current strain on our troops is unsustainable – we simply do not have enough trained and ready troops to indefinitely sustain such high troop levels in Iraq. Pentagon officials have acknowledged that the great demand on our forces has diminished our military readiness and hindered our ability to respond to any new crisis.”

“We have lost more than 4,000 of our men and women, with almost 30,000 injured, many severely. Brigades are not being allowed sufficient time to regroup and retrain, placing enormous strains on our soldiers and their families. Last year, suicides among active-duty soldiers reached their highest level since the Army began keeping records 28 years ago.”

“While the American taxpayer continues to pour $12 billion a month into Iraq, the Iraqi government’s oil revenues are skyrocketing due to soaring oil prices. When the war in Iraq began, the cost of a barrel of oil was $33.51 and the Bush Administration claimed that the Iraqis would pay for most of the reconstruction and basic needs of its people. It has been estimated that Iraq will earn $100 billion in oil revenue in 2007 and 2008. Yet the Iraqi government has billions of dollars sitting in bank accounts collecting interest, while American taxpayers are being forced to foot the bill.”

“If we pursue the Bush stay-the-course mentality, we will quickly reach the decade mark for our military occupation in Iraq. I stand with the millions of Americans who are ready for a new direction.”

Tom Harkin announces run for re-election

2008-03-06T22:17:00Z

On Monday, March 10th, I officially began my Senate campaign for the 2008 cycle by touring the state to meet with supporters from all over Iowa.

Click the play button in the video above to watch my announcement from my hometown of Cumming, IA.

Thank you for joining me on my announcement tour. I look forward to seeing you again on the campaign trail as we continue our fight for Iowa families and the progressive causes we hold dear to our hearts.

Sincerely-

Senator Tom Harkin

Click here to read the text from Tom’s announcement speech in Cumming, IA.

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Tom Harkin on General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker

Tom Harkin announces run for re-election