Congressman Moran's News Commentary

Iraqi insurgent attacks on U.S. forces are increasing daily. In fact, the number of insurgents has quadrupled over the past year and the number of American service members killed since the start of the war has exceeded the 1,500 mark. Our troops are facing powerful adversaries without all the proper equipment to best protect them. They are facing extended deployments, well beyond the year-long mission that most service members are told to expect, which is putting enormous strain on themselves and their families. Additionally, when these troops return, I am concerned that they do not have sufficient access to post-combat treatment and care. A top priority for the Department of Defense must be caring for the troops who have put their lives on the line for this country.

This week, the House of Representatives considered an $81 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill to cover the cost of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and to provide humanitarian relief for victims of the South Asian tsunami. We have literally spent hundreds of billions of dollars on the Iraq and Afghanistan war efforts, and the price tag continues to grow. A major reason for this exorbitant cost stems from the war planners’ lack of a clear strategy to win the peace. Reports of fiscal mismanagement involving certain contractors in Iraq , and differing opinions on the security situation has also led to the need for more resources.

These problems all can be traced back to a major breakdown in the way our government has been operating. Congress has, for too long, taken the Defense Department and White House at their word on the situation in Iraq . The Congress is a co-equal branch of government. It must exercise its oversight ability and demand a clear plan on how to transition U.S. involvement in Iraq .

I have been looking into ways to bring the Majority Party, which controls both the House and Senate, along to this conclusion. Fortunately, an opportunity arose during consideration of the Supplemental Appropriations bill. On Tuesday, I was successful in offering an amendment requiring that Secretary Rumsfeld provide Congress with a “strategy for success” in Iraq . Such a strategy should set basic training, economic, and security performance standards and goals, with an estimated timetable for achieving these goals in Iraq . It is Congress duty to ask civilian leaders in the Department of Defense what their plans are to win the peace and bring our men and women home. The top military leaders on the ground fighting this war are in need of this answer as well. Unbelievably, up until this point, the Congress has not received any plan, any direction, or any indication that there is a thoughtful strategy for success in Iraq .

My amendment will require the Administration to truly examine our overseas military commitment and provide Congress with the necessary answers to critical questions, such as: What criteria will the Administration use to determine when it is safe to begin withdrawing our forces from Iraq ? How will we know when Iraq is stable enough to permit our forces to be significantly reduced or withdrawn? How do you measure stability? What criteria will the Administration use to determine when it is safe to begin withdrawing our forces from Iraq ?

All are questions that should have been considered well before we went to war. Now, as we enter into the third year of U.S. military involvement in Iraq , it is essential that we have an endgame strategy from the civilian leaders at the Pentagon who have led us into this commitment. Passage of my amendment will hopefully be the key to finally getting some answers.

Rep. James P. Moran is Virginia's 8th Congressional District Representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.