H. Res. 571 Is a Fraud
Kucinich gave the following speech in Congress on November 18, 2005:
During debate on H. Res. 572, Providing for Consideration of H. Res. 571, Expressing Sense of House That Deployment of Forces in Iraq Be Terminated Immediately, Congressman Kucinich said:
"Mr. Speaker, I spent 3 years making the case against the war in Iraq, working with other Members leading a nationwide opposition to the war, developing an exit strategy once we got in, working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle on plans to withdraw from Iraq, to bring our troops home, but I will vote against this resolution because it is a fraud.
"What more does anyone need to know but that the sponsor himself has called for defeat of his own proposition? If his real intention is to bring the troops home right now, why would he vote against his own resolution?
"Wake up, America. The American people are fed up with politicians who say one thing and do another. Everyone of conscience and intelligence knows the magnitude of withdrawing 150,000 troops requires a plan.
"The American people deserve a real debate on Iraq. Where are the WMDs? Where is Osama bin Laden? What did Iraq have to do with 9/11?
"This Congress, which is a coequal branch of government, which has the war power, has the oversight responsibility and has a moral obligation to find out why almost everything of significance we were told about the war turned out to be false. Instead, those who raise questions have their military service or their honor impugned.
"They took John Kerry on a swift boat. We are not going to let them take Jack Murtha on a swift boat, nor are the American people. We have to stand up and expose the fakery when we see it."
Analysis of Joint Resolution on Iraq by Dennis J. Kucinich immediately follows this statement in the Congressional Record.
[Ed. note: On November 17 Jack Murtha [PA-12] introduced H. J. Res. 73, To Redeploy U.S. Forces from Iraq, which was immediately referred to the House International Relations and Armed Services committees. By November 18, H. J. Res. 73 had 13 co-sponsors.
The following day Republicans introduced H. Res. 571 and, at 8 p.m., in H. Res. 572 called for its immediate consideration. At 11:33 p.m., H. Res. 571 failed by recorded vote: 3 - 403 (Roll No. 608).]
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