"History will look back at the Iraq war as a tragic miscalculation that cost America far too many lives, far too much money, and distracted us from the real fight against terrorism for far too long. Today, the House begins to close this sad chapter in our history, to end the war in Iraq, and to refocus on the real fight against terrorism in Afghanistan.
"President Obama's new strategy will require additional sacrifices from our troops, but it recognizes that a successful effort in Afghanistan also demands that we improve training for the Afghan military and police, encourage governance reforms, and fund essential economic development efforts. This legislation provides for these critical needs and ensures that our troops in harm's way in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and members of our intelligence community, will have all the tools they need to perform their critical missions.
"With this legislation, we honor the brave men and women of our military. Each time they go into battle, they put their trust in our hands as policymakers. We must be equal to the trust they place in us, give them the tools they need, and only send them into harm's way as a last resort."
Source: Office of the Speaker of the House
