McNerney, Lungren agree changes needed in Iraq

Newly elected Congressman Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, who represents the Lodi area, strongly supported the resolution disapproving of additional troops in remarks made Tuesday night from the House floor.

Galt's representative, Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, also acknowledged that a policy shift is needed to the nation's war policy in Iraq, but he said military force is needed rather than resorting to diplomacy.

"The president's proposal puts more U.S. lives at risk, further stretching the readiness of our ground forces and increasing the drain on our treasury," McNerney said. "The escalation will cause more violence in the Middle East and will weaken our nation."

While McNerney emphasized his opposition to Bush's plan to add more than 20,000 troops in Iraq, he addressed his support for the troops. He noted that he has a personal as well as a political interest because his son enlisted in the armed forces.

"The young men and women who joined the Armed Forces after 9/11 out of a sense of duty and love for our country are just like my son, Michael, who joined the military because of those terrible attacks," McNerney said. "I'm proud and heartened by their commitment to service and patriotism, just as I am of my own son's commitment.

"And I'm concerned about their safety and well being, just as I was about Michael's when he was in the service," McNerney said. "When I talk about supporting the troops, it's not rhetorical; it's personal."

The Democrat called for a public timeline to bring American troops home from Iraq while pursuing a political and diplomatic solution.

Republican Lungren acknowledges disappointment in America's progress in Iraq, but Congress shouldn't debate who's fault it is.

"The question of whether we should have initially gone into Iraq has ceased to be a relevant question in terms of the formulation of a policy response to the circumstances we currently face," Lungren said in a written statement. "The fact is that we are there, and that is the unpleasant reality which must be addressed."

Lungren added, " ... it is clear that there must be changes in our nation's policy in Iraq. The ultimate objective of turning over the security of their country to the Iraqi government must be a primary focus of that policy."

Nevertheless, Lungren said that military force rather than diplomacy is needed to end the violence in Iraq.

"This is not intended to be a unilateral commitment which would have the effect of supplanting an expanding role by the Iraqi military and security forces," Lungren said. "Rather, American units will be embedded within Iraqi formations to help them hold neighborhoods wrested from violent groups within Baghdad and Anbar Province."

First published: Wednesday, February 14, 2007