Iraq Plan Moves In House, Fails In Senate

Pullout Measure OK'd By House Appropriations Committee, Less-Sweeping Senate Plan Is Defeated

(AP)  Democrats aggressively challenged President Bush's Iraq policy at both ends of the Capitol on Thursday, gaining House committee approval for a troop withdrawal deadline of Sept. 1, 2008, but suffering defeat in the Senate on a less sweeping plan to end U.S. participation in the war.

Anti-war Democrats prevailed on a near-party line vote of 36-28 in the House Appropriations Committee, brushing aside a week-old veto threat from the administration and overcoming unyielding opposition from Republicans.

“I want this war to end. I don't want to go to any more funerals,” said New York Rep. Rep. Jose Serrano, one of several liberal Democrats who have pledged their support for the legislation despite preferring a faster end to the war.

“Nobody wants our troops out of Iraq more than I do, countered Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Florida, who sought unsuccessfully to scuttle the timeline for a troop withdrawal. “But we can't afford to turn over Iraq to al Qaeda.”

In the Senate, after weeks of skirmishing, Republicans easily turned back Democratic legislation requiring a troop withdrawal to begin within 120 days. The measure set no fixed deadline for completion of the redeployment, but set a goal of March 31, 2008. The vote was 50-48 against the measure, 12 short of the 60 needed for passage.

Senate Democrats promptly said they would try again to force a change in Bush's policy beginning next week when they begin work on legislation providing money for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

By coincidence, the developments coincided with the traditional St. Patrick's Day luncheon in the Capitol, an annual social event hosted by the speaker of the House and attended by the president. For an hour or so, while lawmakers were debating the war, Bush and the leader of the political opposition, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were seated near one another in an ornate hall not far from the Capitol Rotunda.

If they discussed the war that has so far claimed the lives of more than 3,200 U.S. troops, there was no evidence of it.

The day's votes in Congress underscored the extraordinary, unpredictable wartime clash between commander in chief and lawmakers.

In the House, only one committee Democrat, liberal Rep. Barbara Lee of California, voted against her party's plan, saying it did not go far enough. “I believe the American people sent a mandate to us to bring home our men and women before the end of the year,” she said.

Overall, the committee vote strongly suggested that Democrats will be able to push their troop withdrawal timetable through the full House next week. Even so, there is little if any prospect the Senate will agree to anything remotely similar. And even if it does, Bush's threatened veto that would force Pelosi and other war critics back to the drafting table.

It took weeks for the Senate to agree to hold a formal debate on Democratic calls for a change in war policy, and by the time it occurred, the result was utterly predictable. So much so that Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who is running for the White House in 2008, skipped the vote to campaign in Iowa.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky led the opposition to the measure.

“This is a dangerous piece of legislation. It is constitutionally dubious and it would authorize a scattered band of United States senators to tie the hand” of the commander in chief, he said.

[pakaal]

The irony of the BBC article is harsh. We continue to see our troops die as the Senate dithers on telling President Bush two things.

1) That he is not above the other two branches of US government, that he serves at their pleasure as much as they do him.

2) That we are now a net deficit to the stated goal of creating a democracy in Iraq.

For the former, the Senate needs to focus on reaffirming the status of the three branches of government in terms of checks and balances lest (as in this case) the Executive Branch try to gain too much power at the cost of the voice of the people.

For the latter, since we have now created a democracy in Iraq, we can let the people of Iraq begin to assert that privilege amongst themselves, without prejudice on our part.

[pakaal]

BBC News Headline:

US general upbeat on Iraq 'surge'
The US commander in Iraq is hopeful over the latest security push, as four US troops are killed in Baghdad

The longer the Senate refuses to understand that this mess is best solvable with us out of Iraq as a military presence, the longer we will watch our troops die. We go from province to province, one step behind the snipers and bombers, we'll go over the same ground, and get the same results. Unending war. If we had occupying troops in our country you can bet we'd be doing the exact same thing they are.

Get it straight, the majority of Iraqis, according to their own polls, currently think the US is an occupying force, and they condone attacks on our troops. A majority. If we really want to win their hearts and minds we need to give them some breathing room.

[grazinggoat]

CBS: 'Bush: Politics Behind Dems War Opposition
President Says Democrats Want To Micromanage Generals'

-this is the type of gift CBS gives to Walking-Liar, without letting us comment on his dog-poo.

Walking-Liar is obviously a liar and he lied to the world (including Americans), in order to let the war machine work and keep America at work. By accusing Democrats of 'obstruction' for political reason, he's still lying over a war-subject that was untrue then and is untrue now (weapons of Mass destruction).

A more accurate analysis shows the true mission of such presence in the Middle-East is more to handle the emergence of Iran as an economical power, competing with Israel-USA, Europe or Russia.

click on link to Syrian-Iranian Automobile manufature in Syria, just built there, whereas car assembly plants are closing in Detroit, Michgan. Middle-East a market badly needed for the American Economy.

http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-237/0703083891200815.htm

Why don't we sign commercial agreements with those countries, similar we signed with Israel, instead of sending them our troops and bombs.

Bully Walking-Liar. Step down. We need not such a dictator.

[tbweb]

--bluestardad

Sounds good on paper but the simple fact is the Jews are very smart, very rich and too integrated into American society and politics! But most of all the Jews are a very close group and rarely let outsiders in! The Jews got their act together and you have to give themn credit for that no matter how envious and jealous the rest of the world is about it! The Jews are also a very smart people and you can't just blow them off, there is a lot of brain power there!

[clemenhagen1]

"The Dems are picking up the pace to insure defeat in Iraq."

"Defeat" in Iraq, if it comes to that, will lie squarely on the shoulders of the Bush administration. They have completely botched the reconstruction and post-war phase from the outset. The invasion, ill-advised in the first place as Saddam had been neutralized and contained (no WMD's, no connection to al-Qaeda, no allies), lacked a coherent plan to win the peace. The Rumsfeldians consistently ignored the advice of the Generals; in doing so they couldn't control the region allowing the insurgency to take hold. In the meantime Viceroy Bremer (now there's a name with interesting historical connotations) oversaw a corrupt and disastrous Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) more interested in rewarding cronies with graft than doing any substantive reconstruction. This mess has the Incompetent-in-Chief and his crooked cronies written all over it. To now try to dump this on Democrats, who simply want to carry out the will of the people and extricate us from a quagmire, defies description. Look in the mirror Republicans; Iraq's disaster will be staring back at you.

[opfor311]

Please support the troops by going to anysoldier.com and finding troops who need to know that people back home are thinking about them and are willing to send them a bit of cheer and home.

I appeciated the any soldier letters and packages that people sent during the Gulf War, and I know my son appeciated the packages from home while he was in Iraq.

[feelfree1]

Please support the March 17, 2007 march on the Pentagon, demanding that the cowards, liars, and traitors who occupy that building abandon the illegal war of aggression against Iraq, cancel plans for an illegal war of aggression against Iran, and calling for the impeachment, sentencing, and imprisonment of the megalomaniacal Bush regime.

www.notinourname.net/content/view/16/1/

Don%u2019t forget the huge rallies planned for March 18th, 2007, in a city or town near you. Our rights must be constantly exercised, or they will wither and atrophy.

Please consider signing the following petition, calling for an immediate end to the U.S. inflicted debacle in Iraq.

www.ipetitions.com/petition/OutNow

For incomparable coverage of these, and other various worldwide actions, please visit:

www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml

[bluestardad]

America is tired of marginalizing all the other millions of good honorable people in the Middle East because Israel had it rough in Europe before most of us were born! So why must America support Israel blindly above all the rest of the people in the middle east, just because they do not play well in the sand box together? 50 years of American sacrifice is enough! America must become an honest broker in the Middle East or pull out all together! America can honor its commitments with our Allies but there must be a true unbiased commitment on America%u2019s part in the Region. There will never be peace as long as America intervenes on behalf of Israel at the expense of the Millions of other good people in the Middle East! All the parties involved will never come to agreement if we are constantly pulling their cookies out of the fire every time they get into trouble either! It is not anti Semitic to believe that there are other good people in the Middle East and they should have a voice! You can see by the AIPAC advertisement below this PAC is selling influence to American Elected officials. If you follow the money trail you will find that most of those elected officials who support the war in Iraq are under the influence of AIPAC.

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm

[lieber881]

Thank God for a REAL United States Senator and Patriot like Orrin Hatch!

[lieber881]

Bluestarbigot,

How Hitler these days? Care to join him?

[bluestardad]

HEY IS ISRAEL GOING TO LET AMERICA BRING ITS TROOPS HOME? ASK THESE **************** HOW MUCH AIPAC MONEY THEY TOOK? THOSE FIGHTING THE HARDEST TOOK THE MOST! STUPIDBASTARDS ARE SELLING US DOWN THE RIVER FOR ISRAEL!

HERE ARE THE SENATORS UP FOR REELECTION IN 08 WRITE THEM SEE IF THEY WILL LISTEN THEY NEED AIPAC PERMISSION FIRST!

ASK ISRAEL IF WE CAN BRING AMERICAN TROOPS HOME TOO.
http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm


Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN)
Allard, Wayne- (R - CO)
Baucus, Max- (D - MT)
Biden, Joseph R., Jr.- (D - DE)
Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)
Cochran, Thad- (R - MS)
Coleman, Norm- (R - MN)
Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)
Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)
Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
Durbin, Richard- (D - IL)
Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)
Harkin, Tom- (D - IA)
Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)
Johnson, Tim- (D - SD)
Kerry, John F.- (D - MA)
Landrieu, Mary L.- (D - LA)
Lautenberg, Frank R.- (D - NJ)
Levin, Carl- (D - MI)
McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
Pryor, Mark L.- (D - AR)
Reed, Jack- (D - RI)
Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)
Rockefeller, John D., IV- (D - WV)
Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)
Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)
Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)
Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)
Warner, John- (R - VA)

If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

The House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[rsoxfan1123]

lieber881-that has to be one of the most irrelevant, ignorant, redneck ramblings I've ever read on these blogs. You really should be the poster child for the republicans. You could make appearances at recruiting offices and military funerals for extra cash, like a true mindless bend-over Bush boy. Try addressing the topic next time. There is an article above this, you know.

[lieber881]

Teddy Kennedy seZ - I support the troops.

Yep. About as much as he supported freeing Mary Jo Kopechne from that car in the swirling waters of the Chappaquidick that night.

Just a drunk intern killer. And NO supporter of a volunteer military whom he and the rest of the surrender monkey, moveon.org funded Dem hacks are threatening to stop funding.

Question your patriotism, Dems? Why, you've got NO patriotism to question. Just Blame America BS and betrayal of friends and allies. Interesting that after Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Iran, you are now trying to do the same in Iraq - and some of you are even talking about betraying Israel too because the poor little Paly terrorists just ain't treated nice. As if you treat roaches nice.

Well, maybe you Democrat traitors, Bozo Fascists and Surrender Monkeys do treat roaches nice. You probably eat them for dinner, along with your toilet bowl cocktail. Bottoms up, Missy Pelosi.

Dems = ALL LIES, NO GUTS, NO PATRIOTISM ALL THE TIME.

[rsoxfan1123]

golfkt-the oil has genreated us (the American people) nothing. when we get done spending $1 trillion or more taxpayer dollars it will have cost us(the American PEOPLE,not halliburton oil) our future. genius. not quite so specious. nice attempt to prove your iQ with a big word, though. did you have to look it up first?

[baldfrog-2009]

General Abizaid "General Shinseki" was right,General Casey,General Powell,General Wesley Clarke all Brilliant

David Howell Petraeus,coming in off the bench political 4th string quarterback,Yeah he like the coach now.Wait till things get tight General.

and last but not least

General Pace just plain Ignorant.
Ever notice how those who cry wolf got stuff going on?

[pattipace7]

written inconjuntion with the many issues of the military. it is amusing to watch our politicians try so hard to be either politically correct or downright evasive. Take note what high ranking Democrat, Ms Pelosi, has already threatened; if I don't get my way with a troop withdrawal date by 2008, no needed additional funding for veterans, sick children or hurricane Katrina disaster victims. The longer a problem is unresolved, the more expensive the solution becomes. How can our government help Iran and Iraq governments get along and live in peace when our politicians at home, Democrats and Republicans, can not even get along and work together? They have forgotten the very simple concept of compromise.*** are in every facet of society, as long as there is no public display of affection, what is the big problem? Remember Foley%u2019s display of affection, now that was a very disturbing isolated incident. General Petraeus is now requesting additional troops for the battlefield. many other individuals besides *** want to join the military, but they do not want to fight. a compromise could bring back KP duty and save money without contracting out so much. When stationed stateside why can%u2019t military personnel do the landscaping, plumbing, or electrical work which they know and love without worrying about being sent to battle? It takes more than fighting to win the war on terrorism!

[baldfrog-2009]

golfkt
You obviously didn't read the Resolution for going there (which all were lies yet were met.Lying to the American Public for the Reasons for going there is criminal and impeachable stupid. General Collin Powell was duped by these ***,General Shinseki told them they didn't have enough troops and was let go because of it.This 4th string General after all the other ones have told the Admin is the Epitome of a Bush Political Butt Kiss.Go down and volunteer for the Marines and fill the gap in the escalation not surge if you believe so hard and stop posting on here and being paid by some Republican Rovian P.A.C. Or are you you on the Rove pay roll too you Bush B Utt Kiss.

[golfkt]

Failure to comply with the UN resolutions provided us with the authority to do it--- genius...we did not need any further approval--- genius....and yes, we went in for the oil....of course....and the oil is generating how much revenue...genius?...The failure to comply was ongoing...and the authority had been approved..

The oil argument is specious...

[rsoxfan1123]

golfkt-those were resolutions that the UN itself hadn't yet agreed had been violated, only Bush and his gang that were eyeing the oilfields. What does the Geneva Convention say about pre-emptive strikes without UN approval, genius?

[golfkt]

Actually the war is NOT illegal. The failure to comply with 17 UN resolutions give us the legal right to enter Iraq.
The war is perfectly legal.
Was the post war policy implemented improperly---yes...
And for those that allege treason or war crimes...you are showing a clear lack of understanding of those two terms/words...
But then again those on the left never really grasp that issue