Denver, Colorado ­Today, President Bush continued to defend his permanent commitment to a failed strategy in Iraq. The President’s stubborn refusal to change course was highlighted in an op-ed by former Marine Corps General John J. Sheehan, who recently declined an offer to take over the newly created position of White House implementation manager for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "There is no agreed-upon strategic view of the Iraq problem or the region," wrote Sheehan. "We got it right during the early days of Afghanistan -- and then lost focus. We have never gotten it right in Iraq … These huge shortcomings are not going to be resolved by the assignment of an additional individual to the White House staff. [Washington Post, 4/16/07, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/
2007/04/15/AR20070415005 64_pf.html]

Colorado Democrats in Congress have a plan to ensure that the brave men and women serving in Iraq, including Colorado's 799 National Guard members and reservists, have a real strategy for success and the resources they need both on the battlefield and when they return home. But, despite the fact that the President’s mismanagement of the war has stretched our armed forces to the breaking point and forced our soldiers into battle without proper body armor and training, Colorado’s Republicans in Washington still refuse to hold him accountable.

"Last November, Coloradans made clear that they want to change course in Iraq but President Bush and Republicans like Marilyn Musgrave, Doug Lamborn, and Tom Tancredo have stubbornly refused to work with Democrats toward a solution," said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak. "Democrats support our troops. We have put forward a plan that provides our troops and veterans with the resources they need, offers a real strategy for success, and holds the Iraqi government accountable for its own future. Our troops cannot solve Iraq’s political problems. The time has come for President Bush and Colorado Republicans to put partisanship aside and join Democrats in working for a real solution."