Fallon Discusses Ending Iraq War - Says Congressman Boswell has stood with Bush too often

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Des Moines, IA. - Congressional candidate Ed Fallon took the opportunity to discuss the war in Iraq and veterans’ issues at a town hall meeting in Des Moines on Wednesday, March 19^th.

Fallon is a strong supporter of ending the war in Iraq. He says, "If elected, I would support legislation that (1) provides no additional money for Bush's war; (2) allocates adequate resources to bring our troops home and to address their physical, emotional, mental health and employment needs upon their return; and (3) set a short time table to withdraw all combat troops. "

Fallon, like many Iowans, says he's frustrated by the current Congress' failure to stand up to President Bush, end the war and bring our troops home. In particular, Fallon says, "After it became clear that President Bush misled us into war, Congressman Boswell continued to vote for additional funding for the war with no timetable for bringing the troops home. “

Fallon says, “Recently, when high school students visited Congressman Boswell’s Des Moines office and refused to leave until he spoke with them by telephone, Boswell told them, “I advocate for an orderly plan. In the last year or so, I’ve voted five or six times for that.”

Fallon says, “Unfortunately, Congressman Boswell is mistaken, and the facts say something quite different.”

· While Boswell did vote for a bill with timetables, the President vetoed it (H.R. 1591 on 03/23/07). Then two months later, on the next funding bill calling for a timetable for partial withdrawal (H.R. 2237), Boswell sided with Bush and voted against it, even though House Democrats supported the bill 169-59 (05/10/07).

· Boswell also voted in favor of H.R. 2206, which continued funding without a timetable for troop withdrawal (05/10/07).

· Again in June, Boswell voted for H.R. 2764, which also continued funding without a timetable for withdrawal (06/22/07).

Fallon notes that in November 2007, Boswell did vote for a funding bill that contained language for a partial withdrawal (H.R. 4156 on 11/14/08). Fallon says, “This vote came after he learned that I was planning on running against him. While I’m pleased to see him move in the right direction, this vote seems motivated more by political expediency than by a sincere change of heart. The truth is Boswell has repeatedly sided with Bush and House Republicans against the majority of his fellow Democrats and the clear desire of the American people to end the Iraq War. “
Fallon concluded, “The effects of the Iraq war will be with us for our lifetimes. We cannot undo the tragedy of President Bush’s misadventure in Iraq. But we must change course in order to mitigate the length and severity of those effects.”

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