Let’s go back in time to 1991. Boucher voted “YES” to HR2100 to terminate Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). It was REJECTED by the House 266-118. (In ’92 Boucher voted to reduce funding for SDI – again House voted No to reducing the funding. Boucher voted “YES” to cutting funding for B-2 Bomber and House voted “No” to cutting funding).
In 1991, Iraqi military forces invaded Kuwait and, among other things, took control of its oil fields. Virtually the entire free world came together in protest and outrage. The United Nations demanded that Saddam Hussein’s forces withdraw from Kuwait immediately. It soon became obvious that military action would be necessary in order to evict the invading Iraqi forces.
Kuwait was an ALLY of the United States.
A vote was taken in Congress to authorize military action to evict invading Iraqi forces from our ally, Kuwait. The measure obviously passed and resulting successful action came to be called the Gulf War. There was only ONE representative (Senator or Congressman) from VIRGINIA who voted “NO” to going to the aid of our ally …….. RICK BOUCHER.
1995. One key vote in Congress was “HR 7″ (2/16/95). The official title of the legislation was “To revitalize the National Security of the U.S.” One key provision was to PROHIBIT U.S. troops from serving under United Nations COMMANDERS, unless the President certifies that it is necessary for national security. The Bill PASSED – prohibiting U.S. troops from serving under UN Commanders. BOUCHER voted “NO” to prohibiting U.S. troops from serving under foreign commanders.
1996. Boucher voted AGAINST the ANTI TERRORISM BILL of 1996. The measure failed. Instead, he pressed for more massive domestic spending (PORK) with in his WRITTEN WORDS, “Funding to be derived from INTELLIGENCE and DEFENSE Budgets”. He continually supported Bill Clinton’s efforts to reduce spending for INTELLIGENCE (CIA and other Intelligence agencies) and Defense during Clinton’s 8 years.
9/11 …… Thirty-one days after 9/11, Congress passed the “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001″ on 10/12/01 by a VOTE OF 337 to 79. Rick Boucher was one of the 79 who voted “NO”.
Within 6 weeks after being hit by terrorists on 9/11, on October 24,2001 Congress passed THE PATRIOT ACT by a VOTE of 357 to 66. Rick Boucher was one of the 66 who voted “NO” to the PATRIOT ACT.
Fast forward to 2002. On October 10, 2002 Congress was asked to authorize the President to use armed forces against Iraq. RICK BOUCHER voted “YES”.
An aside. A recent opinion piece entitled “The Right Side of History” exposed a bit of interesting information. It listed and named members of the Senate and House who voted “NO” to the war in Kuwait in 1991 and “YES” to war in Iraq 2002. The article revealed that there were only TWENTY-FIVE members out of the Senate and House who were (in the article’s opinion) on the WRONG side if history – BOTH TIMES. One of the “TWENTY-FIVE” ?…… RICK BOUCHER. (He voted “NO” to helping Kuwait and “YES” to the war with Iraq). Some names of the other twenty-five? … Senators Biden, Kerry, Daschle, Dodd and Schumer and Congressmen, besides BOUCHER, Gephardt and William Jefferson from Louisiana who is currently under endictment.
Congress passed the FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE ACQUISITION Act. Rick Boucher voted AGAINST it.
By 2006, Boucher (along with most Democrats) was blaming President Bush for FAULTY INTELLIGENCE regarding the war with Iraq! However, in 2006 Boucher had opposition in his RE-ELECTION bid. BEFORE THE ELECTION, on June 16, 2006 (and in opposition to his Democrat party), Boucher voted “YES” to House Resolution861 which pledged SUPPORT FOR THE WAR in IRAQ and rejected a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. HRes 861 (6/16/06) stated … “Not in the security interest of the U.S. to set an arbitrary date for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq and committing the U.S. to the completionof the mission to create a sovereign, free, secure and united Iraq”.
AFTER THE ELECTION and as soon as he was safely sworn into office, Boucher shifted his position almost IMMEDIATELY. This was one of the first actions by the new Congress controlled by Democrats.
THE SURGE. On February 15, 2007, Boucher gave a speech on the floor of the House demanding that Bush NOT proceed with the “SURGE” in Iraq. He stated that sending additional troops into Baghdad … “only serves to put more American forces in harm’s way. The troop increase will NOT bring long-term stability, it will not halt the sectarian strife which has plunged Iraq into a Civil war, it will do nothing to speed the day when U.S. forces can hand over the mission to the Iraqis and come home”.
Boucher wanted to begin a diplomatic “dialogue” with neighboring countries, including IRAN, in order to achieve a “more promising direction in Iraq”. He said that was “the ONLY option we have left in order to achieve under U. S. guidance a peaceful Iraq. President Bush has rejected this recommendation. He has acted, in my view, UNWISELY”. “More U.S. troops are NOT the answer. Blind faith in the Iraqi Prime Minister with his ties to the Shia militia leader,al-Sadr, is not the answer. A military solution standing alone is not the answer. The ONLY path to success lies in diplomacy and accepting the wise counsel of the Baker-Hamilton Commission”.
February, 2007. Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid declared …. “THIS WAR IS LOST!” Boucher obviously agreed. On July 12, 2007 Boucher voted FOR the “Redeployment From Iraq Act” whereby troops were to begin withdrawing within 90 days and to be fully withdrawn by APRIL 1, 2008. (The measure failed).
Remember Boucher’s stand on the war just 12 months earlier when he was running for re-election?
Regardless of one’s opinion of the Iraq War, many people agreed that our withdrawal would have led to carnage and incredible strife in the region. However, the SURGE WORKED and the resultant success in Iraq has been the biggest NON NEWS STORY of 2008. Even Barack Obama, Boucher’s new “best friend”, finally admitted in an interview in September, 2008 that the surge worked beyond his “wildest dreams”.
The concern among many folks here in the 9th District was the effect Boucher’s comments and actions had on our troops who were either serving in Iraq or scheduled to be deployed. “The war is lost” and/or “surge can not succeed” could have had a devastating effect on our people who proudly and heroically sacrificed in service to their country. They have honorably brought Iraq to almost unimaginable peaceful existence and our troops will now be gradually brought home to heroes’ welcomes. BOUCHER HAS YET TO ADMIT THAT HE WAS WRONG …… OR TO APOLOGIZE.
Kuwait 1991 ….. Boucher – NO
Anti Terrorism Act 1996 ….. Boucher – NO
Partiot Act of 2001 ….. Boucher – NO
Iraq War 2002 ….. Boucher – YES
6/16/06 Timetable for withdrawal … Boucher – NO
Surge in Iraq ….. Boucher – NO
July, 2007 Immediate withdrawal of troops ….. Boucher – YES
Boucher one of only twenty-five in the entire Senate and House on the “Wrong Side of History” – “both times”.