Dreier Statement on Democratic Whip’s
Comments on Iraq

July 31, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), Rules Committee Ranking Republican, issued the following statement in response to comments made by Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), who told the Washington Post yesterday that if General Petraeus’ September report were to paint a generally positive picture of the situation in Iraq, it would create a "a real big problem" for his political party.

"Congressman Clyburn's comments are disappointing, but not exactly a surprise. For the past seven months the Democratic Majority has been searching, unsuccessfully, for a way to legislate failure in Iraq. First it was a non-binding resolution. Then it was a failed attempt to use the funding for our troops to demand their retreat. Just recently it was a vague, ill-conceived bill demanding a reduction in troop levels. This was all done without consideration for our national security, but to mollify a restless political base. Now that we are seeing some progress on the ground in Iraq, the Democrats don't want to believe it. Democrats should stop fretting and simply focus on supporting, rather than undermining, the strategy finally yielding results."