Feedback on the Surge

Jan. 17, 2007

Should America send a “surge” of 20,000 more troops to Iraq? Response was swift in Northern Michigan last week, following the unveiling of President Bush’s idea to boost troops levels in the country.
Following are the views of Congressmen Dave Camp and Bart Stupak on the President’s plan. In Northern Michigan, Camp represents the Grand Traverse area, while Stupak represents Little Traverse, Otsego, the Straits and the U.P.:

U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-Midland)
“The President was correct to change our strategy in Iraq.  The future of our mission depends on improving circumstances there rapidly.   In my view, this is our last chance.
As long as success is still possible, tying the hands of our Commander-in-Chief, as some have suggested, only puts our troops at even greater risk.”

U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee)  
“While the country voted for change, the President seems to be staking out a course of more of the same.  I did not hear anything tonight that makes me believe this escalation in forces will be more successful than the previous troop escalations. Since June, this Administration has twice escalated the number of troops in Baghdad and neither of these troop surges had the desired effect of bringing stability and security to Iraq. 
While I look forward to hearing the views of members of the military and other Members of Congress on this issue, I am not yet convinced that President Bush adequately demonstrated tonight how this new escalation will be any different.  Adding another 21,500 troops at a cost of more than $5 billion is not what the American people want.
It is time that the President begin discussing an Iraqi Accountability Plan that will responsibly redeploy our
brave men and women from Iraq, not how we will inject more troops into harm’s way.”