WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, today responded to the congressionally-mandated report on conditions in Iraq from General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

Rep. Markey said, “President Bush’s latest Potemkin village fabricated to mask his failed Iraq policy is a ‘Petraeus village’. It is clear that the Petraeus village is just a façade to hide from view the continuing failure of the Bush Administration’s strategy in Iraq.

“Claims by the White House and General Petraeus that violence has fallen are not supported by non-partisan and independent estimates. Today General Petraeus testified that ‘the number of attacks across the country has declined in 8 of the past 12 weeks,’ but the independent Government Accountability Office reported to Congress that ‘average daily attacks against civilians have remained unchanged from February to July 2007.’ It is brutally clear that the surge has not reduced violence in Iraq; it has simply shifted it to different areas of the country.

“I have tremendous respect for General Petreaus, but I am concerned that he may be delivering too much White House spin in hopes of adding more time to what he calls the ‘Washington clock.’

“In January, I introduced legislation to block the President’s surge of troops, because I suspected that what was billed as a temporary increase would become permanent. My fear is now coming true, and with the Iraqis seemingly incapable of successfully pursuing political reconciliation even as the horrifying violence continues unabated, it is more important than ever that we begin to bring our troops home.”