Ron Klein On H.R. 63

Congressman Ron Klein gave a speech on the House floor in support of H.R. 63. Klein mentioned the Broward County Veterans Council's discontent with the current state of the war.

I am also here today to specifically honor the Broward County Veterans Council, who recently adopted a resolution concerning the war in Iraq.

The Broward County Veterans Council represents a host of veteran groups throughout Broward County, Florida, including the Broward chapters of: the American Legion; AmVets; the Disabled American Veterans; the Fleet Reserve; the Gold Star Mothers; the Italian American Veterans; the Jewish War Veterans; the Marine Corp League; the Navy League Council; the Order of the Purple Heart; the Paralyzed Veterans Association; the Reserve Officers Association; the Retired Officers Association; the Veterans of Foreign Wars; the Vietnam Veterans of America; and the World War 1 Barracks.

The Broward County Veterans Council, led by its Chairman, Bill Kling, adopted this resolution unanimously on January 16, 2007.

In a galazy far, far away...

Republican Congressmen Jack Shadegg and Pete Hoekstra send out the talking points.

This debate should not be about the surge or its details. This debate should not even be about the Iraq war to date, mistakes that have been made, or whether we can or cannot win militarily. If we let Democrats force us into a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, then we lose.

The American people loses if Congress refuses to debate Iraq. That's what got us into the mess to begin with. Republicans need to stop looking through the lense of partisan politics. The GOP should do what is the best policy. The United States can't prevent civil war in Iraq. In fact, we're helping fuel the ethnic feuding by training security personal who go and massacre Sunnis.

Republicans will lose if they back Bush on Iraq. Did the midterms teach them anything? They need to get out of the let's-not-do-what-the-Democrats-support and do what's right for the country and their own political survival. These Republicans need to stop being told what to do and actually start thinking. If they can't do that then I hope the door doesn't hit them in the ass on the way out.