Tennessee Federation of College Democrats

Statement of Response to President Bush’s Speech on Iraq

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Federation of College Democrats Executive Vice President Alex Youn released this statement on behalf of the organization, following President Bush’s recent speech on the on-going war in Iraq:

“As Tennesseans reflect on President Bush’s speech on Iraq and the war on terror, they may find themselves asking questions – tough questions that the Democrats have been asking for some time.

“The Bush Administration took America into the war in Iraq guided by plans that didn’t match the reality on the ground. Because of this, courageous men and women have been placed in harms way and in many cases lacking sufficient resources.

“The simple truth is that Americans deserve to know whether we are making progress, in terms of troop strength and building a political consensus. This is especially true when we face the hard fact that nearly half of Americans (49%) believe that U.S. troops in Iraq do not have the resources and equipment they need to fight the war effectively.

“There are many things the Administration needs to say to answer our questions on Iraq and the war on terror. There are many things our troops, their families, and the American people deserve to know. We need to know how many capable Iraqi forces we need before our troops can come home. We need to know what progress is being made on the reconstruction in Iraq. We need to know taxpayers’ dollars are being spent wisely. We need to know what the Bush Administration is doing to forge a political consensus and what they are doing to make Iraq’s neighbors and other countries part of our strategy.

“Tennesseans do know that hoping for the best isn’t a policy and that ‘stay the course’ is not a strategy. The debate on this war can no longer go on behind closed doors. It is time for regular hearings on Iraqi progress. The American people deserve to have their tough questions answered. The American people also deserve a plan, a real plan that coincides with real-life on the ground in Iraq.”