Boehner Marks Success of Surge, End of U.S. Combat Mission in Iraq

ABC News' John R. Parkinson reports:

With President Obama set to address the nation tonight from the Oval Office to talk about the end of the U.S combat mission in Iraq, House Minority Leader John Boehner called on the President not to settle for a gradual surrender, but to set a clear strategy that is focused on victory in Iraq.

“No voice – no matter how strong or committed – can substitute for the voice of the Commander-in-Chief. That is why the president must take the time to articulate in a coherent, consistent matter to their families and fellow citizens the cause, purpose, and goal of their mission.” Boehner said in Milwaukee according to prepared remarks. “The people of [Iraq] – and this nation – deserve to know what America is prepared to do if the cause for which our troops sacrificed their lives in Iraq is threatened. I hope the president will address that question as early as tonight, when he speaks to the nation, and the world.”

Boehner, R-OH, credited the efforts of U.S. troops in Iraq and commended General David Petraeus and General Ray Odierno for helping to turn the tide of the war. 

“This day belongs to our troops, whose courage and sacrifices have made the transition to a new mission in Iraq possible,” Boehner said. “It is with profound gratitude that we reflect on all that our service members and their families have done – and continue to do – during a time of peril.” 

Boehner told the 92^nd American Legion National Convention that he could not help but recall a time when the situation in Iraq was grim and the future seemed bleak.

“When General Petraeus embarked on the surge strategy, it was widely viewed as our last chance to save Iraq from spiraling into an irreversible descent toward chaos. The consequences of failure then, as now, were severe,” Boehner said. “At this hour, 50,000 U.S. troops are still in Iraq. For those troops, and for their families, the war will not be over until they come home. And though the mission has changed, their work is no less critical. The hard truth is that Iraq will continue to remain a target for those who hope to destroy freedom and democracy.”

The House minority leader recalled that then-Senator Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi all opposed the troop surge and spoke out against it as Congressional Democrats pushed for a troop withdrawal heading into the mid-term elections in 2006.

“Some leaders who opposed, criticized, and fought tooth-and-nail to stop the surge strategy now proudly claim credit for the results. Today we mark not the defeat those voices anticipated – but progress,” Boehner said. “I want to thank President Obama for setting aside his past political rhetoric and recognizing the importance of the surge and the diplomatic agreement signed by President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki.”

Boehner said he supports President Obama’s counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, and called on the president to renew his commitment to ensuring success there rather than focusing on “arbitrary deadlines for withdrawal.”

 “[President Obama] must also place a greater emphasis on ensuring successful implementation of both the military and civilian components of his strategy,” Boehner said. “Using campaign promises as a yardstick to measure success in Iraq and Afghanistan runs the risk of triggering artificial victory laps and premature withdrawal dates unconnected to conditions on the ground.”

Boehner said that moving into the future, Congress cannot turn its back on the successes that U.S. troops have achieved in the region and called on fellow lawmakers to support the troops still in harm’s way.

“That means no more troop funding bills held up by unrelated, extraneous domestic spending and pork barrel projects,” Boehner said. “Our troops in harm’s way should never have to doubt Congress’s commitment to supporting their mission.”

"We need a Congress that understands that when we send our sons and daughters to risk all in defense of our security, that victory is the only option, and that and we'll do whatever it takes to provide them with the necessary support so that they can return home swiftly and successfully," Boehner added.

–John R. Parkinson