Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement after the Senate vote to continue debate on a resolution criticizing President Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq. Sixty votes are required to end debate in the Senate. Graham was one of thirty-four Senators who voted to keep debate open. He also urged the Senate to allow a vote on an alternative resolution introduced by Senator Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire) which states that cutting off funding will undermine our troops and the war effort. Graham said: "In a recent address to the troops, General Petraeus said, ' A decisive moment approaches. Shoulder-to-shoulder with our Iraqi comrades, we will conduct a pivotal campaign to improve security for the Iraqi people. The stakes could not be higher.' "It's clear General Petraeus understands and fully appreciates what is on the line in Iraq. The Congress should be reinforcing what he is saying to the troops, not undercutting him. "It was a sad and unusual Saturday session for the U.S. Senate. We were not engaging in real work, but political theater. Many Senators made it clear they feel Iraq is a lost cause and unwinnable situation. If they really believe that then they should vote to cut off funding. "The Iraq resolution is the first step in a policy of retreat which I believe will come back to haunt us for decades in the War on Terror. "The recent debates and actions of the Congress will only embolden our enemy and undermine our efforts to secure victory. General Petraeus and our troops in the field deserve better." #####