As the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Lantos has been one of the leading voices in Congress calling for the withdrawal of American troops from the sectarian civil war in Iraq. He was a principal critic of the report to Congress by General David Petreus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. In the Democratic response to President Bush's call for continuing U.S. troops in Iraq, Congressman Lantos said: "To win the war against international terrorism, we must stop frittering away our resources -military, diplomatic, and economic - on an endless religious war in Iraq." He accused the Administration of "pulling out all the stops to make the case to 'stay the course' for an endless war in Iraq."
The following media items deal with Tom's activities and views on Iraq:
- Democratic Radio Address – September 15, 2007: Critique of the Congressional Testimony of General Petreus and Ambassador Crocker, YouTube Audio
- A failed case for keeping our troops in Iraq, Oped by Congressman Tom Lantos in the San Francisco Chronicle, September 11, 2007
- Opening Statement of Tom Lantos at the Congressional Hearing with General Petreus and Ambassador Crocker, YouTube Video, September 10, 2007
- Beyond the September report: What's next for Iraq? Oped by Congressman Tom Lantos in San Mateo Daily Journal, September 7, 2007
- Opening Statement of Chairman Tom Lantos at the Hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs: "Iraq: Is the Escalation Working?" YouTube Video, June 27, 2007
- House's Afghan aid bill sends a message to Bush: 406-10 vote urges focus on nation that harbored bin Laden, San Francisco Chronicle, June 7, 2007
- House members offer plans for Iraq war, San Francisco Chronicle, March 21, 2007
- Against the "Surge" in Iraq – Press Conference on Capitol Hill, February 15, 2007, YouTube Video
- Against the "Surge" in Iraq – House Debate on Resolution Criticizing the President's Policy in Iraq, Debate in the U.S. House of Representatives, February 13, 2007, YouTube Video
- Journey to Iraq, Afghanistan confirms our views, Oped by Congressman Tom Lantos in San Mateo Daily Journal, February 2, 2007
- Lantos blasts troop plan, San Mateo Daily Journal, January 29, 2007
- Release from Democratic Leaders Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Senator Harry Reid: United House and Senate Democratic Leader's Call on the President to Make Urgent Course Change in Iraq -- Escalating sectarian violence and rising death tolls require a new direction in U.S. policy, Press Release, October 20, 2006
- House Government Reform Committee Hearing on "Acquisition Under Duress: Reconstruction Contracting in Iraq," September 28, 2006 (statement)
- Lantos Notes History May be Repeating Itself After Reported Intelligence Document Indicates that Bush Afghanistan, Iraq Efforts Could be Making the Country Less Safe, Press Release, September 25, 2006
- Lantos Leads International Relations Committee Democrats in Letter Urging President Bush To Improve Efforts in Afghanistan, or Risk Losing More Ground There, Press Release, September 19, 2006
- Bush Administration failed to put real national security within reach (OpEd article by Congressman Tom Lantos), San Mateo Daily Journal, September 8, 2006
- Lantos, Democratic Leaders Call for Changes to Iraq Policy and to the Civilian Leadership at the Department of Defense, Press Release, September 5, 2006
- Democrats ask for a change in Pentagon's civilian leadership: Rumsfeld views draw a reaction, Associated Press, September 5, 2006 (excerpts)
- The battle to reconstruct Iraq: U.S. needs to keep an eye on its tax dollars (OpEd article by Congressman Tom Lantos), San Francisco Chronicle, August 20, 2006
- Lantos signs letter seeking phased troop withdrawal, San Mateo County Times, August 1, 2006 (excerpts)
- Iraq Solution Not on the Table, San Mateo Daily Journal, June 17, 2006
- Lantos slams administration for waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq reconstruction, Press Release, June 8, 2006
- Lantos, fellow Dems seek hearings on Iraq reconstruction spending, San Mateo Daily Journal, April 27, 2006
- Democrats Press for More Responsible Congressional Oversight of U.S. Operations in Iraq, California Chronicle, April 4, 2006
- Lantos Seeks White House Investigation, San Mateo Daily Journal, April 2, 2006
- Lantos Seeks Investigation on Whether the White House Violated the Constitution, Press Release, March 31, 2006
- State Democrats decry Republican torture info vote, San Mateo County Times, February 10, 2006 (excerpts)
- Lantos Supports Probe Into Spying, San Mateo County Times, December 21, 2005 (excerpts)
- Lantos Votes against Patriot Act because of Civil Liberties Concerns, San Mateo Daily Journal, December 15, 2005
- Congress Needs To Denounce Torture Loudly and Clearly, Lantos Says, Press Release, December 7, 2005
- Democrats to Introduce Legislation to Create Select Committee to Investigate Prisoner Abuse – Common Dreams (Progressive Newswire), May 27, 2005