FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jeff Parnell

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Webster County, Missouri; 12/09/2009

"One comparison that must be made between the troop surge in Iraq and the Afghanistan surge is that Congressman Skelton was Speaker Pelosi's point man against the Iraq surge. In light of that fact, I am disappointed and troubled that he is now allowing himself to be used as a tool by the Obama administration when the lives of American troops are at stake. After the long delay in responding to General McChrystal's requests, the last thing we need is to further "lawyer" the subject to death by asking inane questions such as "What do we believe must be accomplished in the next 18 months?". Neither the President, Congressman Skelton, or any other democrat seems to be capable of uttering the words "win" or "victory".
We unfortunately now debate what constitutes “success” in such an endeavor, when all soldiers and military historians know the answer: War is won when the enemy’s will to wage war is broken and he sues for peace. The President and Congress owe it to the troops to untie their hands and pursue this end game. If they do not have the stomach for it, sending more Americans is the wrong strategy."

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