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February 23, 2007
Alaska Republicans Support Escalation Of Iraq War
Alaska Democratic Party, press release

     This past Saturday and last Thursday, Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young made it clear that they support more of the same failed policies in Iraq by voting against resolutions expressing disapproval with President Bush's plan to escalate the war. 

     While a bipartisan majority in the House and Senate supported the resolutions, Stevens and Young, both Alaska Republicans, joined a small group who voted in favor of the President's misguided plan to escalate the war in Iraq. 

     During debate Young railed against the House resolution and falsely attributed the following quote to Abraham Lincoln: "Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged." After it was revealed that Lincoln did not make the inflammatory statement, Young's press secretary, Meredith Kenny, said Congressman Young "continues to totally agree with the message of the statement." 

     Over 70 percent of Americans disagree with the president's plan to add an additional 21,500 troops to police a civil war in Iraq. Despite this, Stevens and Young voted to protect the President instead of standing with Americans who disapprove of the President's plan. 
 
     By voting against the resolutions, Stevens and Young chose to ignore the lessons of history, the advice of military experts and the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group.  Additionally, a recent report shows that troops are facing equipment shortages with a lack of armored vehicles, weapons and other equipment.  These shortages continue to hamper efforts in Iraq and will likely be made worse by the President's troop surge plan.
 
     "This past week, our Republican delegation had an opportunity to represent the interests of Alaskans by voting with the American people and against the President's troop surge plan," said Jake Metcalfe, chair of the Alaska Democratic Party.  "Instead, Stevens and Young chose to back President Bush, placing their allegiance to his/her party over the will of the people and the safety of our troops. 
 
     "Our troops continue to be stretched thin and are still lacking much needed equipment.  Alaskans and our brave men and women deserve a new strategy, and a new direction not more obstruction by Republicans like Stevens, Murkowski and Young, who are clinging to a failed stay the course strategy.  The President's plan to continue to escalate the war in Iraq and bogging down our troops in the middle of a civil war is unacceptable.  Our delegation should join Democrats in seeking a forward looking plan that calls for a political solution and gets our brave men and women out of the crossfire of an Iraqi civil war."

     Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was absent for one of the most important votes of her Senate career and did not vote Saturday. On Feb. 5, Murkowski voted to block an up-or-down vote on a resolution condemning the President's escalation of the War in Iraq, although she has said she does not support the troop surge.
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in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership.