House Proceeding on Feb 14th, 2007 :: 2:19:31 to 2:24:50
Total video length: 11 hours 58 minutes Stream Tools: Stream Overview | Edit Time

Note: MetaVid video transcripts may contain inaccuracies, help us build a more perfect archive

Download OptionsEmbed Video

Views:168 Duration: 0:05:19 Discussion

Previous speech:

Next speech:

2:11:50 to 2:19:31( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Mike Rogers

2:19:18 to 2:19:31( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Rogers: the turf battles between the state department and d.o.d., i wish they didn't exist. we know they do. we took a very large bureaucratic civilian organization and set it down in the middle

2:19:31 to 2:19:45( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: of baghdad and wondered why it has some inefficiencies. but these are things that we can change. we can do that. my mother told me that if you're going to tell me what i'm doing wrong,

2:19:31 to 2:24:50( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jim Ramstad

2:19:45 to 2:19:59( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: you better be prepared to tell me how to do it right. the resolution before us today says nothing of an alternative. we have soldiers getting up every day and engaging themselves in fight for liberty

2:19:59 to 2:20:12( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: and defense and going after al qaeda targets in the west and trying to find al qaeda elements locating and spurring on this self-sustaining ethnosectarian violence. it does nothing to tell

2:20:12 to 2:20:23( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: them that we, a, support them, and b, will give them all the tools and make the things that we know we can to make it possible for them to come home to their families soon. this afternoon i'm

2:20:23 to 2:20:35( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: going to do that, i'm introducing a resolution, fairly comprehensive. that will allow us to focus our national power without sending 20,000 troops to iraq. it will help target the unemployment that

2:20:35 to 2:20:47( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: we know is fueling terrorism in iraq today. clear rules of engagement for our troops, calling for the reprattation. -- repatriation of the iraqis. they are goes, lawyers, engineers, teachers who

2:20:47 to 2:21:03( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: fled iraq in this turmoil to engage our allies to get them back and invest them in the future of iraq. what disturbs me most, mr. speaker, about this resolution is its clear purpose is to

2:21:03 to 2:21:17( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: divide those of us in this chamber. as i said earlier i don't support the surge in iraq that targets sectarian violence in baghdad. i think that must have an iraqi face for that to be successful.

2:21:17 to 2:21:33( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: and i think we can provide logistics and command and control and we can provide combat air support and special operations support to make them successful as they move through iraq. i

2:21:33 to 2:21:48( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: think we can do that. but this resolution does nothing to bring members together to solve this problem. if you win this vote today and this passes, we will have solved not one problem for

2:21:48 to 2:22:05( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: one soldier who gets up this morning hoping and praying that he accomplishes his mission and come home to his family, not one. it truly seeks to find the differences of those of us in

2:22:05 to 2:22:18( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: this chamber on how we move forward in iraq. there is nothing constructive in that. nothing constructive in that. there is a young soldier that i met, visited him down in brooks army medical center. he

2:22:18 to 2:22:33( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: was -- had -- one additional minute. mr. hoekstra: one additional minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one additional minute. mr. rogers: he asked that his leg be

2:22:33 to 2:22:43( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: amputated so he could have full range of motion so he could pass the physical training test for the united states army and go back to iraq . he was going through all that very painful process

2:22:43 to 2:22:56( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: of getting it fitted and going through the physical training and trying to rehabilitate himself. and as i got ready to leave i said is there anything i can do for you as member of congress?

2:22:56 to 2:23:05( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: he turned and said, yes, sir, there is, just don't give up on us. now, if this soldier can believe in this mission and can he get up every day and fight through the sweat and the pain

2:23:05 to 2:23:19( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: and the anguish of a lost limb so that he can get back in the business, if he can roll up his pant leg every day and fit that prosthesis, isn't there a way and shouldn't we do better and

2:23:19 to 2:23:32( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: roll up our sleeves to work together to find a solution? we got in this together. we must get out of it together. we need to stop the division that this resolution brings to this house and start

2:23:32 to 2:23:49( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: working together. our soldiers deserve better. america deserves better. the future of this country and safety and security deserve better. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro

2:23:49 to 2:23:58( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from north carolina. mr. jones: how much time is left? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from north carolina has 41 minutes

2:23:58 to 2:24:13( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: remaining. mr. jones: mr. speaker -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan has four hours, 13 1/2 minutes. mr. jones: that seems unfair, no, mr. speaker, i would like to

2:24:13 to 2:24:23( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: yield five minutes to the gentleman from minnesota. mr. ramstad. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota is recognized for five minutes. mr. ramstad: i thank the gentleman for yielding.

2:24:23 to 2:24:37( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: mr. speaker, the president has said for more than four years that he would follow the advice of his commanders on the ground with respect to troop levels in iraq. that's why i am both surprised

2:24:37 to 2:24:50( Edit History Discussion )

Jim Ramstad: and disappointed the president did not follow the advice given as recently as two months ago by the army and marine corps chiefs of staff, as well as general john abizaid, general george casey,

2:24:50 to 2:25:04( Edit History Discussion )

Jeb Hensarling: and general colin powell. all, all of these highly respected commanders expressed their opposition to increasing the number of u.s. troops in iraq. as general abizaid, the top commander

2:24:50 to 2:29:28( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jeb Hensarling