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

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made this statement on the threat by the House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) to not pass a new war funding bill until early next year and condition it on a goal of January 2009 for an end to U.S. combat operations in Iraq .

 

Graham made this statement:

 

“Such a position is the height of irresponsibility, particularly in a time of war.  The Al Qaeda fighters being run out of Anbar and Diyala Provinces because of the surge would cheer on a congressional cutoff of funding.  The very dangerous regime in Tehran, which seeks to develop nuclear weapons and dominate the entire region, would stand and applaud America’s lack of resolve to establish a stable government in Iraq .  I hope Chairman Obey revisits this ill-conceived position.”

 

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