WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to President Bush’s press conference today, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following statement:

“Today’s Presidential press conference provided further evidence of the incoherence and incompetence that has characterized the Bush Administration’s Iraq policies.  In the face of growing public opposition to the war and plummeting support for the Republican ‘stay the course’ policy in Iraq, the President is now saying that ‘Americans have no intention of taking sides in a sectarian struggle or standing in the crossfire between rival factions.’”

“But the American people already know what the President is just beginning to recognize – our brave troops are caught up in the crossfire of a civil war in Iraq and the White House has no idea how to get them out.”

“Democrats believe that we need a new direction in Iraq, and one that quickly redeploys our military out of Iraq to an over-the-horizon presence in the region.  Democrats also believe the Iraqis should be doing more to assume responsibility for ensuring their own internal security, and that the continued U.S. military presence in Iraq is only making the situation there worse and breeding more terrorists.”

“The President’s war in Iraq has weakened America in its struggle against terrorism.  It diverted troops and resources away from the hunt for Osama bin Laden, undermined U.S. efforts to defeat the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and create a stable government in that country, and eroded international support for U.S. efforts to build an effective multilateral coalition to fight terrorism.”

“In short, the Administration’s war in Iraq has made us less safe, created more terrorists, and left us with far fewer friends around the globe.”

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