Leveling with the American Public About the Situation in Iraq

June 29, 2005 - Denver, CO Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak today criticized President Bush for failing to come clean with the public about the situation in Iraq.

"President Bush offered more slogans and rhetoric than facts. We expected him to level with us. Instead, we still don't know when our troops are coming home. We still don't know why we went to war in Iraq looking for weapons that didn't exist. We still don't know how the administration could have failed so disastrously in planning the post war occupation. And we still don't know why so many of the soldiers serving honorably in Iraq are forced to fight their own government for the benefits they earned doing their duty," said Pat Waak.

"My nephew fought for our country in Iraq and was discharged 10 days prior to receiving full benefits."

"Our nation owes an enormous debt of gratitude to the thousands of soldiers from across the country--including 2,243 from right here in Colorado--who are fighting so courageously in Iraq and Afghanistan. The president owed them more than he offered in his speech last night."

"In fact, he owed us all more, like an answer to why he took his eyes off the ball on the war on terror letting Osama Bin Laden remain at large almost four years after the September 11th attacks."

"Slogans and rhetoric, no matter the stage, don't make up for the lack of answers."