“Our
brave men and women in uniform are fighting a war of choice in which we
sent our young people into harm's way without leveling with the
American people.  They were sent into war without intelligence about
what they were going to confront, without the equipment to protect
them, and without a plan for what would happen after the fall of
Baghdad.  Disagreement with the policies that sent our troops to Iraq,
and which keep them in danger today, in no way diminishes the respect
and admiration which we have for them. 

Democrats strongly
support our troops; we have the finest armed forces in the world and
they are doing a great job.  Sadly, the level of their sacrifice has
never been matched by the level of the Administration's planning, and
the American people agree this war is not making America safer. 

This
unnecessary pre-emptive war has come at great cost.  Over 3,000 of our
troops have lost their lives, and thousands more have suffered lasting
wounds.  Since the war began, Congress has appropriated over $350
billion, and the United States has suffered devastating damage to our
reputation in the eyes of the world.  The cost in lives and limbs, the
cost in dollars, and the cost in reputation has been enormous.”