House Plans Simple "Yes Or No" On Iraq
Democrats Working On Bare-Bones Resolution Opposing Troop Buildup
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Play CBS Video Video Republicans Block Iraq Debate Senate Republicans stopped further debate on a resolution opposing Bush's plan for Iraq prompting accusations from Democrats that they support an escalation of the war. Sharyl Attkisson reports.
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Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., says the House vote on President Bush's Iraq plan is something legislators owe to their constituents. (AP)
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Democratic leaders, from left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid outside the White House, Jan. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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Sen. John Warner, R-Va., second from left, at a news conference last month with Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., second right, Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., right, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. (GETTY)
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Interactive New Plan For Iraq Key elements of the plan, excerpts from the president's speech, reaction and more.
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Who's Who Congress Reacts To Plan Reaction to President Bush's new Iraq stategy, which includes an increase in troops.
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Interactive Battle For Iraq The government, the insurgency, key players, background and photos.
They said House members will also get a chance to vote on a Republican alternative.
The Democratic leaders said they would take a bare-bones approach to writing the resolution — a tack intended to persuade Republicans to break ranks with the GOP and express their frustration with a war.
"This is an up-or-down vote on the policy enunciated by the president," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill. "We owe that to our constituents."
The resolution would state opposition to Mr. Bush's dispatch of 21,500 more troops to Iraq and voice support for the troops themselves and for enlarging the overall size of the Army and Marines, which the administration has proposed. It is not expected to address the question of whether Congress should limit money for the war.
The leaders described the vote as the first step of many that will be taken by Democrats to try to force an end to the nearly four-year-old war that has killed more than 3,000 U.S. troops and turned public opinion strongly against the conflict.
But Republican leaders say the debate could end up hurting U.S. forces, CBS News correspondent Susan Roberts reports.
"A nonbinding resolution is nothing more than political theater that means nothing, and I believe that it demoralizes our troops in the field," said House Minority Leader John Boehner, R–Ohio.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the House will have three full days of debate and that all members will have a chance "to articulate their view on how they want to proceed. That is important I think for the president to hear. It's important for the country to hear, and we will ensure that it is done."
The House measure in the works indicates leaders there are moving away from a Senate version backed by Democrats and several Republicans that the GOP blocked on Monday.
That resolution, by Sen. John Warner, R-Va., expresses dissatisfaction with Mr. Bush's plan to and identifies benchmarks the Iraqi government should meet. It was stalled when it fell 11 votes short of the 60 required to move the debate forward.
Frustrated that Senate leaders could not agree on debate rules for his resolution, Warner and six other Republicans told the leaders in a letter Wednesday that "the current stalemate is unacceptable to us and to the people of this country."
Read the Senate Republicans' letter on the Iraq debate
The senators warned they would attach the resolution against the troop increase to every piece of legislation they can in an effort to force a debate.
"The war in Iraq is the most pressing issue of our time. It urgently deserves the attention of the full Senate and a full debate on the Senate floor without delay," the letter said.
In addition to Warner, the other Republicans who signed the letter were Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Gordon Smith of Oregon and George Voinovich of Ohio.
Meanwhile, despite concerns by several lawmakers over the job he did in Iraq, the Senate voted Thursday to let Gen. George Casey become the new Army chief of staff.
In an 83-14 vote, senators approved Casey, who was nominated for the job by President Bush.
Casey had been America's top commander in Iraq since mid-2004 — and during his recent confirmation hearings, even some Republicans had doubts about his performance. Among them was Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who said under Casey's watch, the situation in Iraq got "progressively worse."
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Read the Senate Republicans' letter on the Iraq debate
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See all 77 CommentsI want them to pay for the things they have done.
Run them out in disgrace no retirement and no perks as we have paid enough for these bozos.
What are you waiting for Nancy, are you waiting for them to get a ***?
Now the white house defends Pelosi over the plane issue.
Is Pelosi sleeping with bush or is it big dicky?
Lets end the troop build-up and send just the munitions, food, bodily protection the troops there need, not more of our family members. It is time for the Iraqi people to take over their own govt. and control their own destiny.
Posted by docpeter at 09:24 AM : Feb 09, 2007
docpeter--I have written my representatives on two seperate occasions stating that I do not agree with the war in Iraq...but honestly--what difference is it going to make?? I feel like our "representatives" do not care what their constituents think...it is pretty evident given the current situation...it makes me so angry!!!Bring out troops home and hold those responsible for this mess accountable!
I agree she did not have a clear mandate for impeachment but by so quickly removing even the possibility of impeachment, she has encouraged the president%u2019s uncooperative attitude, possibly extending the fiasco in Iraq. I wouldn%u2019t want to play poker with her; I haven%u2019t a clue what she had in mind. However, I truly want to give her the benefit of the doubt, but it sure does beg the question. why?
Is george sleeping with Nancy or is it big dicky.
Posted by rharrin1
She may not have a choice soon, this thing is developing a life of it's own!
bring the troops home and impeech bush's dumb *(*&^*&^*&^*(&^(^^^$$^%)%*)ss.
Is george sleeping with Nancy or is it big dicky.
I have never understood why Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, took impeachment of the president off the table, before the new congress really got underway.
From everything I have seen and/or read about the actions of President Bush and this administration, especially since 911 and the inexplicable invasion of Iraq, no president has ever been more deserving of impeachment.
And now the president, whom I have never known to defend a democrat, comes to her defense in the attacks she is undergoing about her alleged request for a larger military plane to use in her travels.
Is this quid pro quo? What does this say to the voters who thought they were voting for justice as well as for change?
Lets end the troop build-up and send just the munitions, food, bodily protection the troops there need, not more of our family members. It is time for the Iraqi people to take over their own govt. and control their own destiny.
islam is intent on killing or enslaving all non muslims
PLEASE go to your local High School and pick up a basic HISTORY Class and LEARN. Fascism is what you clowns have been practicing for the last 30 years you boob. Don't think so? Ask the people of GERMANY, since THEY know much more about the subject than you. Fascist have a HATE target, a group, whom they can blame ALL their faults and ills on. In YOUR case the group is "Liberal's". Anyone who does NOT agree with you will be put into that group and people are incouraged to hate and dismiss that group. Not all Muslims practice Fascism, any fool knows that. ALL of you clowns practice fascism and anyone doubting that need only to tune in Ol Pat Robertson or Falwell. Hell man THEY tried to blame the attack of 9/11 on Liberals. People who live in Glass House's should not throw stones. Sieg Heil!!
Posted by lars008 at 04:19 AM : Feb 09, 2007
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That is more GOP propaganda and just one of the many lies George Bush is so fond of telling.
The UN passed a resolution authorizing use of force to remove Iraq's forces from Kuwait. Once those forces were removed from Kuwait, the UN agreed to end hostilities.
The agreements were with the UN, they were not with the US or any other member state.
And the UN never passed any other resolution authorizing use of force against Iraq.
The invasion of Iraq was and is a war crime under international law. George Bush claiming some resolution from 1991 authorized the invasion of Iraq in 2002 is absurd.
And anyone who actually believes that lie is a moron.
It's about time!! This country desparately needs to hear where it's elected officials stand on this. If they are in favor of this illegal war, tell us why.
Posted by lars008 at 04:19 AM : Feb 09, 2007
There is so much space in this poor fascist head that you'd have to us and appolo rocket to find his brain.
There are probably books being used somewhere that call xenophobes "apes" as well. I know I personally find it to be rather neanderthal.....
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