There are a number of claims that need to be openly addressed in order to have an informed debate about our situation in Iraq...

Myth #1: "The terrorists will follow us home"

On it’s face this seems intuitive… if we’re not providing a target for Al Quaeda anymore in Iraq when we draw down our forces, they will have nothing better to do than to set their sites on the U.S. mainland. Even though it sounds obvious – reality is quite a different matter. In this recent news story, we find that even experts from conservative think tanks believe that this argument is specious. Click here to learn more

The National Intelligence Estimate of 2006 clearly stated that the Iraq Occupation has actually increased the terrorism threat.
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Myth #2: "The Iraqi’s want us to stay"

This is a claim sometimes cited by the likes of my opponent Rodney Frelinghuysen. Unfortunately it’s an uninformed statement. As it turns out, the only thing the fighting factions of Iraq seem to agree on is that they will be better off when the “occupying forces” leave according to focus groups conducted for the Pentagon in a report late in 2007. Click here to learn more

Myth #3: "The Surge is working"

Our definition of success needs to be examined in order for us to say if this is truly working. As early as 2003, a strategy recommended by General Shinseki, or the so-called Powell Doctrine, may have held violence down in Iraq in order to help the citizens of Iraq establish a peaceful coexistence. At this point in time we could also send as many troops as we want into Iraq to reduce the violence to absolute “zero”. Is that success? The surge was supposedly recommended to create “breathing room” for the Iraqi government and allow us to pull our forces out soon after. We’re now told that a “pause” has been recommended for that draw down. Without being held to account, it appears that only exit strategy this administration had in mind was called “Innauguration Day 2009 – Crawford or bust!” Click here to learn more

Anyone who truly supports the troops know they deserve better leadership. Anyone who truly believes in the responsible use of our armed services and financial resources of our country – should demand accontabilty from their representative in Washington. Tom will be your voice.

Tom is now an endorsee of a Responsible Plan to end the occupation of Iraq, developed by Democratic candidates for Congress, Major General Paul Eaton (U.S. Army ret.), former Security Transition Commanding General, and Iraq Dr. Lawrence Korb, former Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Reagan Administration. Click here to learn more. The plan is largely based on the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group headed by Jim Baker and Lee Hamilton.