Boehner Statement Following President's Speech at American Legion Convention

WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement after President Bush’s remarks on the war on terrorism at the 89th Annual American Legion convention in Reno, Nevada:

“As President Bush underscored today, Iraq is at the intersection of our battle against radical Islamic extremists and represents the defining struggle of this generation. Throughout Iraq, General Petraeus’ strategy is working to drive out extremism and bring freedom to a part of the world that needs it most – and America will be safer because of it.

“In addition to our military gains in Iraq, Sunday’s news of a political consensus among Iraq’s top Shiite, Sunni Arab, and Kurdish leaders will help deliver reconciliation, unity, and a free and secure country in the heart of the Middle East. A growing number of my Democratic colleagues have witnessed our troops’ successes firsthand and are realizing the folly of their leadership’s year-long political calculation to simply declare ‘the war is lost.’ Indeed, this approach is proving to be dead wrong both for the national security of our country and for the credibility of their party.

“With Congress set to return to session next week and with General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker poised to deliver their report next month, Democratic leaders are faced with some very serious choices. Will they support a path that continues success, or they will maintain a platform of failure? If it’s the latter, just how far are they willing to move the goalposts in the face of overwhelming evidence of progress in Iraq? And just how much longer will they attempt to make the case that a precipitous withdrawal is the right approach, even as Iran’s radical leader declares that he is prepared to fill a power vacuum left if American troops leave behind an unstable Iraq? House Republicans will continue to ask these key questions as we await the report from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker in the coming weeks.”