American Against Escalation in Iraq: Thanks Sen. Grassley--Not!

AAEI’s ‘Iraq Summer’ Campaign today denounced Senator Chuck Grassley’s latest vote to continue President Bush’s reckless Iraq War policy by voting against legislation that would have begun the safe and responsible redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq.

The public demand to end the war is unmistakable. Nearly 80 percent of Americans believe the U.S. should withdraw troops from Iraq [New York Times, 9/10/07]. The American public did not buy Bush's “PR” campaign and demand to bring the troops home is stronger than ever. Before the hearings and speeches last week 65 percent of Americans wanted the U.S. troop presence in Iraq reduced or removed entirely; now 68 percent support such a move [CBS News, 9/17/07]. But today Senator Grassley joined with Senate Republican leadership to block an end to the war.

The measure, offered by Democratic Senators Carl Levin and Jack Reed as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization bill, would have begun the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq within 90 days and wrapped up the process within nine months.

“Senator Grassley’s vote today is extremely disappointing for the majority of Iowans who oppose continuing President Bush’s endless war policy,” said Sue Dinsdale, mother of an Iraq War veteran and Field Director for the Iowa “Iraq Summer” Campaign. “After four and a half years of war 3,800 of our troops are dead, and nearly 28,000 more are wounded or injured. America’s brave men and women have sacrificed enough, yet the senator voted to continue President Bush’s reckless war on the backs of our overextended troops. Opposition to the war in Iraq is stronger than ever and Senator Grassley’s vote to keep our troops bogged down in an endless civil war in Iraq won’t be received well by Iowans who simply want an end to the war.”

“Instead of voting on behalf of a majority of Iowans – Senator Grassley shirked his duty to represent their views and voted to continue waging President Bush’s endless war on the backs of our soldiers. Today Senator Grassley proved today he still stands with President Bush over the best interests of America’s security and our troops,” added Dinsdale. “Especially our troops.”