WALZ ENCOURAGED BY IRAQ STUDY GROUP REPORT

12/06/2006

After reviewing the Iraq Study Group’s report, Congressman-elect Tim Walz said, “I am encouraged by these recommendations and I believe they will open the door to a meaningful debate on Iraq. My colleagues and I are ready to work with President Bush to bring about an appropriate drawdown and I believe the Iraq Study Group’s work will help to bring about that result.”


“I’d like to extend my gratitude to the members of the Iraq Study Group for undertaking this important work and for providing us with such a thorough report to consider,” said Walz.


Walz, who is the first Command Sgt. Major to serve in the United States House of Representatives, spent 24 years in the Army National Guard before retiring in the spring of 2005 to run for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District seat. During his campaign, Walz published a whitepaper detailing his plan for Iraq, which is a remarkably similar, simplified version of the report published today by the Iraq Study Group.


Walz’s whitepaper focuses on two of the key pillars of today’s report: the need to engage a comprehensive regional security force in Iraq and the necessary capacity building that includes significant improvements in Iraq’s most basic infrastructure.


Click here to view the Walz whitepaper.


“I’m optimist about the opportunity to openly engage in a discussion about the future of Iraq and the American involvement in that future,” said Walz. “These recommendations hold a great deal of promise and I’m excited that they’re available for us to consider as Congress begins this badly-needed debate.”