Statement From Mayor Raul Martinez

Posted: Mar 19, 2008

Five Years in Iraq, Lincoln Diaz-Balart Still Refuses A New Direction in Iraq

In 2003, I attended the funeral of Corporal Armando Ariel Gonzalez, a brave US Marine from Hialeah that died during the War in Iraq. The discussion of the War ceased being philosophical and became very real. How would his widow and her child be cared for? How would they be able to move on? Will his child be able to have the same hopes and dreams that my children have had in this country?

The immense and unnecessary burden the War in Iraq has placed on our soldiers, their families, our country’s fiscal and economic condition and our standing in the world must end if we are to move forward as a nation and a leader in the free world.

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq. Yet, even as the badly planned and misguided war now enters its sixth year, Lincoln Diaz-Balart continues to be a reliable rubber stamp for George Bush and John McCain’s failed stay-the-course approach and consistently blocks a responsible new direction to the war.

Despite five full years, nearly 4,000 brave American soldiers killed, and more than half a trillion dollars spent, it is time for the responsible New Direction to this war, but Lincoln Diaz-Balart stubbornly refuses to even criticize or question the war,” said Mayor Raul Martinez, candidate for Congress from FL’s 21 Congressional District. “The war has already cost the taxpayers of our district $1.1 billion alone, which could be invested in real priorities here at home. Once elected to Congress, I will do what Lincoln refuses to do – support a responsible redeployment our troops, force the Iraqi government to take responsibility for the security of their own country, and rebuild our military.

Background

• So far Congress has appropriated $526 Billion to fund the war in Iraq. [Congressional Research Service; 2/22/08]


• The total cost of the war is estimated to top $3 trillion. [Washington Post; 3/9/08]
• According to the National Priorities Project, the war in Iraq has so far cost the taxpayers of FL - 21, $1.1 billion, which could otherwise be invested in providing people with affordable health care, building new schools, and investing in renewable electricity [http://www.nationalpriorities.org/tradeoffs].