WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi
released the following statement today after news organizations reported
that the Bush Administration will seek to limit involvement by General
David H. Petraeus in the September progress report on the war in Iraq:
    "For a long time the Administration has hidden behind the name of
General David Petraeus, saying the September report will be his. We all
knew this would be the President's report. It is now clear that the White
House will seek to limit involvement by General Petraeus in reporting to
the Congress and to the American people next month.
    "We must remember that the purpose of the surge was to create a secure
environment in which political change could occur. Whether or not some
limited military success has occurred, it is clear that the Iraqi leaders
have failed to make political progress.
    "The question for September is: 'Why should our troops risk their lives
in a civil war when the Iraqi government refuses to take the political
steps necessary to end the sectarian violence?' We must have a candid
assessment of the ongoing situation in Iraq and it is increasingly unclear
whether the September report will provide that."

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