Pelosi announces Iraq 'Democratic forum'

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Pe...orum_1121.html

Published: Tuesday November 21, 2006

Incoming Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has announced a "Democratic forum" on the Iraq war that will take place early next month, according to a press release issued today by her office.

"Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi announced today that House Democrats will hold a forum to discuss the war in Iraq on Tuesday, December 5," the statement begins. "Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, and Major General John Batiste will join current and new members of the Democratic Caucus in discussing options for a way forward in Iraq."

Brzezinski is former National Security Advisor to President Carter; Holbrooke is former Assistant Secretary of State under Carter and President Clinton; and Batiste is a retired U.S. Army division commander and a vociferous critic of outgoing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

Pelosi continues in the statement, "The war in Iraq is one of the most critical issues confronting our nation, and the American people have clearly called for a New Direction in Iraq.

"We know that ‘stay the course’ is not working, has not made our country safer, has not honored the commitment to our troops, and has not brought stability to the region. I look forward to hearing from our distinguished group of experts as House Democrats discuss the deteriorating situation in Iraq."