Rep. Tom Allen released two statements on Tuesday about the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War. One statement came from his official congressional office and the second statement came from his campaign (it is not kosher under campaign finance laws to have the same statements).

I am hearing from at least one of Maine's other lawmakers that they, too, could have a statement. We will post that upon receipt.

Below is the statement from Allen's congressional office.

Statement on the 5th Anniversary of the War in Iraq

Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, March 18, 2008)---U. S. Representative Tom Allen issued the following statement today on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the invasion and beginning of the War in Iraq:

“On the 5th anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War, we also approach two ominous benchmarks and have recently surpassed another. As of Monday, total U.S. Armed Forces deaths in Iraq are nearing 4,000 at 3,990; another nearly 30,000 of our service men and women have been wounded, many with crippling physical and psychological trauma they will carry for the remainder of their lives. And in the last few weeks, the direct cost to taxpayers of the war surmounted half a trillion dollars.

“General Petraeus told me in Baghdad last summer that if we continue in the direction that President Bush has set, we will be in Iraq for another ten years. If we stay on that course, how many more of our courageous military men and women will die or suffer life-shattering wounds? Can we afford to spend another trillion dollars in Iraq that we could better use to shore up our nation’s defenses, tighten our homeland security and invest in health care, education and other priorities of American families?

“I voted against the 2002 resolution authorizing the War in Iraq and was a leader of the effort in the House to require the President to seek support from the UN and a broad coalition of allies before attacking Iraq. I have been a consistent and outspoken critic of the President’s failed Iraq policies. In early 2006, I called for beginning to bring American forces home from Iraq with the goal of having them all out of Iraq by the end of 2007. Unfortunately, the President and his allies in Congress blocked all efforts to end the war in 2007. I believe that the only way to change direction in Iraq is for Congress to set a firm, responsible deadline for bringing all American forces home. I will continue to oppose funding for the War in Iraq that does not include a clear, responsible end to America's involvement in that country’s ongoing religious civil war.”

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