Rothman votes againt further Iraq War spending

U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, D-Fairlawn, a vocal member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, opposed further funding for the war in Iraq if it is not linked to the safe redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq. The congressman issued the following statement about his vote:

“Tonight, I voted against a $165.4 billion funding bill for the war in Iraq. At a time when Americans are facing rising food costs, higher prices at the pump, home foreclosures and failing roads, sewers and bridges, it is irresponsible to continue to misuse our military forces, and misspend our finite U.S. tax dollars to continue to police the Iraq civil war. With no clear end in sight, estimates show that the war in Iraq could ultimately cost the United States up to $3 trillion. The Department of Defense is spending an estimated $10.3 billion a month on operating costs in Iraq — while here at home our economic resources are exhausted.

“I will only support funding for the Iraq war if it is linked to beginning the immediate redeployment of U.S. troop from there. Our failed Iraq policy has resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 American troops and left nearly 30,000 of our soldiers wounded. It has stretched our military to the breaking point and strained military families with repeated and lengthy deployments.

“I have and will continue to fight efforts to provide federal funds for the war in Iraq unless that money is used to bring our brave young men and women home. It is long past time for the U.S. to redeploy all servicemen and women out of Iraq, maintaining a rapid action force in neighboring countries, just over the Iraqi horizon. Democrats and Republicans alike must work together to develop a foreign policy strategy that focuses on real threats to America’s security, not on policing civil wars half a world away.”

Read more about Rothman's views on the Iraq War at: http://rothman.house.gov/topic_iraqwar.htm.