Reaction; By the Wisconsin Delegation

Most Democratic members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation reacted in sharp opposition President Bush’s new Iraq strategy, while the Republicans were more guarded in their comments:”Tonight, the president ignored the recommendations of members of both parties, military leaders, foreign policy exports, and the will of the American people by announcing that he intends to escalate our involvement in Iraq by sending more troops there. Congress must bring an end to what has been one of the greatest foreign policy mistakes in the history of our nation.”Sen. Russ Feingold,Democrat”I heard little encouraging in the president’s remarks tonight. Against the advice of his senior commanders, the Iraq Study Group and a clear majority of the American people, he is proposing to send more troops to Iraq – an approach we have tried before that has failed to reduce violence in the region.”Sen. Herb Kohl,Democrat”I strongly oppose the president’s plan to escalate the war in Iraq. In November, voters sent a clear message that they don’t support a war without end.”I support the House resolution . . . calling for Congressional approval of any escalation of the war and a specific plan for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops as soon as possible.”Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison)”The path we’re now on is morally unacceptable. This is President Bush’s war, and his proposal this evening is not a complete and comprehensive plan for Iraq . . . Everyone except President Bush believes that 20,000 additional troops will not change the outcome in Iraq. Instead of decreasing the violence, tonight’s proposal will increase the risks.”Rep. Steve Kagen(D-Appleton)The president has tried troop surges before in 2004, 2005 and 2006 – without success. I do not understand how a fourth time till lead to any other result.”If President Bush wants to escalate the war in Iraq by exposing more troops to danger and spending billions more in taxpayer dollars, he must convince the Congress and the American people that this time will be different.”Rep. Ron Kind(D-La Crosse)”I emphatically oppose President Bush’s proposal to send an additional 20,000 American soldiers to Iraq on top of those already there in the midst of an Iraqi civil war. It is clear to the people of this country that the way this administration went to war in Iraq was a mistake, and it is my belief that you don’t correct mistakes by making more of them”Rep. Gwen Moore(D-Milwaukee)”Tonight, the president said what needed to be said: The current strategy in Iraq is failing. The question now before Congress and the American people is whether this new strategy will work or not. In my opinion, the key elements of a successful strategy include placing the responsibility for success on the Iraqis, giving the Iraqi people a real stake in their government, and securing Baghdad so that security can be maintained by Iraqi troops in the future. These points were addressed.”Rep. Paul Ryan(R-Janesville)”In his address to the national tonight, President Bush, as our nation’s commander in chief, outlined his proposal for sending more troops to Iraq, As paradoxical as this may sound, this is the first step to removing our soldiers from Iraq and bringing them back home for good.”The surge of troops, combined with the timetable laid out by the president, shows that he understands the concerns of the American public. I was pleased to hear that this renewed commitment to Iraq is not open-ended.”Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner(R-Menomonee Falls)”Make no mistake: Our troops won the war. And Congress is never going to shortchange them in terms of funding or support. But the administration’s misguided policies have lost the peace. . . . This call for a military buildup in Iraq now is too late and at this point will be counterproductive.”Rep. Dave Obey(D-Wausau)Rep. Tom Petri (R-Fond du Lac) said Wednesday through a spokesman that while he “has doubts about our current Iraq policy,” he wants to think carefully before responding to Bush’s new plan.Journal Sentinel Washington BureauCopyright 2007, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media.)

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