Senate Passes Iraq Withdrawal Bill
Legislation Requiring Troop Pullouts Beginning In October Passes 51-46
-
Play CBS Video
Video
Bill Passes, Showdown Begins
The House passed a controversial war funding bill that sets a timeline for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq, despite President Bush's promises to veto any such measure. Bill Plante reports.
-
Video
Clock Ticking On Iraq Funding
The House passed a bill to start pulling out U.S. troops from Iraq by October this year, even as Gen. David Patreaus is in Washington pleading his case for more time in Iraq. Karen Brown reports.
-
Video
McCain On Iraq & Campaign '08
Harry Smith questions presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., along with his wife, Cindy, about the Iraq funding showdown and hitting the campaign trail.
-
-
Photo
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., speaks during the Senate's debate of the Iraq spending bill that includes a provision to withdraw U.S. forces by the end of the year, April 26, 2007. (CBS)
-
Photo
(AP / CBS)
-
-
Interactive
110th Congress
The balance of power shifts and new leadership takes control as the latest session convenes.
-
Interactive
Iraq: 4 Years Later
The conflict wears on as the nation struggles to rebuild.
-
Interactive
Bush Presidency
The president's agenda, plus facts, figures, major events and key personalities.
The 51-46 Senate vote was largely along party lines, and like the House passage a day earlier it underscored that the war's congressional opponents are far short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a Bush veto.
Democrats marked Thursday's final passage with a news conference during which they repeatedly urged Bush to reconsider his veto threat. “This bill for the first time gives the president of the United States an exit strategy” from Iraq, said Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin.
The legislation is "in keeping with what the American people want," added Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
The White House was unmoved. "The president's determined to win in Iraq. I think the bill that they sent us today is mission defeated," said deputy press secretary Dana Perino. "This bill is dead before arrival."
Given that standoff, Republicans and Democrats alike already were maneuvering for position on a follow-up bill.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell dismissed the just-passed legislation as "political posturin" by Democrats that deserves the veto it will receive. "The solution is simple: Take out the surrender date, take out the pork and get the funds to our troops," he said.
The bill would provide $124.2 billion, more than $90 billion of which would go for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The bill also specifies that before combat units are deployed, the president would have to certify to Congress that they're "fully mission capable," and then wait 15 days. In addition, deployments are limited to one year, reports CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.
Democrats added billions more for domestic programs, and while most of the debate focused on the troop withdrawal issue, some of the extra spending also has drawn Bush's criticism.
The day's developments amounted to a landmark of sorts.
The vote occurred nearly four years after Bush stood on the deck of an aircraft carrier before a banner that read “Mission Accomplished” — and 113 days after Democrats took power in Congress and vowed to change course in a war that has cost the lives of more than 3,300 U.S. troops.
During Vietnam, a longer and far deadlier war for U.S. forces, Congress went years before it was able to agree on legislation significantly challenging presidential war policy.
In the current case, any veto override attempt would occur in the House, and even Democrats concede they lack the votes to prevail.
With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at his side, Reid said Democrats hoped to have a follow-up war-funding bill ready for the president's signature by June 1. Despite administration claims to the contrary, he said that was soon enough to prevent serious disruption in military operations.
Several Democratic officials have said they expect the next measure will jettison the withdrawal timetable, a concession to Bush. At the same time, they say they hope to include standards for the Iraqi government to meet on issues such as expanding democratic participation and allocating oil resources.
Bush and congressional Republicans, eager to signal the public that they do not support an open-ended commitment to Iraq, have both embraced these so-called benchmarks. Unlike Democrats, they generally oppose using benchmarks to require specific actions, such as troop withdrawals.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
...
- 20
- next
See all 997 CommentsNo wonder Bush is threatening to veto. This is certainly no way to run a monarchy!
Why who do we the people think we are?
Posted by Red1530 at 08:25 AM : Apr 26, 2007
+ report abuse
WHO IS THE ENEMY? I keep asking you Fascist this and I never get an answer. The PEOPLE who attacked this Nation ARE NOT in IRAQ! I know you Fascist are simple minded, you have to be, but for GOD's Sake you have to have a LITTLE intelligence!! The PEOPLE who attacked us are NOT in Iraq and since they are NOT what are we doing there? I think, amoung all the lies we were told, the goal was to create a DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT that would be an ally in fighting the "ENEMY". Nice goal but the REAL ENEMY has completely rebuilt itself and has rebuilt those that protected them to the point that they are stronger than when they attacked us. Don't you simple minded MORONS think it's time we got back to the business of THIS nation and let the folks of IRAQ settle theirs? Sieg Heil Dumb as a box of Rocks!!
(1) Bring them back home, take proper care of the wounded and of the families of the victims.
(2) Leave them there without proper equipment, save money on wounded (Walter Reed ...) and families to send even more canon meat over there and fill some
wallets at Halliburton.
We already know Bush choose way no 2 and that's why he will veto the bill.
The mandate of the people is to bring our troops home and end this military adventure that has no clear goal or end in sight. We left Vietnam under similiar circumstances so its not like its the first time.
If Bush dares to veto the bill, then maybe its time for congress to begin impeachment proceedings and remove King George from office.
Have you and your fellow heroes like AntiUS Advisor, Bluestarbigot, Exlax, RandyBO, and your friends Kerry, Murtha, McDermott, Hagel, and Webb gone and liberated Saigon yet?
Ahhhh, no. Too busy sitting on the toilet. Or is it that you need a General to lead you? Well, kool-aid kiddies and bozo nazis - you've got two. They have plenty of (in)experience, and they claim to support the troops - that's presumably you, of course.
Their names are Prune Face Reid and Botox Ho Nan. I am quite sure they'll lead you to victory. Maybe an Islamonazi one, but after all, you don't care, do you.
Hope Franklystupid is reading this too - oh, he can't read. Or elese he'd know about the ties between Al Qaeda and the Sh'ite terror groups; about how loose the house arrest of Bin Laden's son in Tehran is; and quite possibly where those WMDs ended up. But then again, you losers and your MoveOn.Org Blame America bait the Joozs and Christian friends can't comprehend a thing.
Be glad you live in a country that tolerates traitors. Including ones who still spit on uniforms - like your friends whom you s*ck up to, losers.
What about Mr. Bush? How he and Condi Rice blew off the Intelligence briefing in August 2001 titled Bin Laden Planning attacks inside the United States Using Passenger Aircraft, as having no actionable intelligence. How he has never addressed the support of our enemies by the Saudi Arabian friends of his! Or that he squandered the good will of the world by starting a War in Iraq outside American National Interest on a Lie because Israeli Neocons wanted Iraq brought down. How Mr. Bush has stamped on civil liberties in the country and the justice department and FBI are tools for the Administration to attack its political enemies. How he has diverted funds from Afghanistan and the hunt for bin laden to Iraq 363 tons of money and 400 billion tax dollars, that did not attack us on 911 and are funding Sunni Al Qaeda in Lebanon to counter Shiite Hamas against Israel. He has cut programs that strengthen the Military and supported the troops in the United States and Veterans affairs realms.
Elected officials who support the war in Iraq are under the influence of AIPAC.
http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm
Contact Congress http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
House Speakers email
AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov
info@gop.com Republican Party email
democraticparty@democrats.org Democratic Party email
However, because Congress is still split 50/50, even Democrats who are advancing this bill know that it will not advance beyond the Senate.
Between the Senate filibuster & Dubya's veto power, Democrats are still very limited in what they will be allowed to accomplish. It is the price the nation must pay for letting the political situation in this country get so far out of whack.
Because the political situation has gotten so far out of whack, it will require 4 - 6 years for voters to effect real change in govenment. For those who are fed up with the agenda of the Extremist Right, they must wait at least another 1 1/2 years to effect significant change.
In that case, no further bill is needed.
That's the difference between those of us who truly love freedom, appreciate our troops, and are knowledgeable about the security needs of our country - and you who don't care, who hate, who spew, who lie - and applaud traitors.
Many who served in 'Nam (unlike a couple of the brain dead bozos here) remember with shame the scores of desperate Vietnamese and Cambodians trampling over each other after the DEMORATIC congress denied aid as Giaps Panzers roared south. The people who tried to board the helicopters and ships.
Well, those same Demorats, who have been soft on security since 1972 want to see the same thing now. After all, they gave us handwringer coward and bigot Carter, who betrayed the Shah (never mind his shipments of advanced weapons to the Saudis), and Cliton too busy with the girls and bombing innocent Serbs to do anything about Bin Laden (but do blame Bush, right, bozos?)
Unfortunately this time around it just won't be the Iraquis who suffer - it will be America and the West too. Al Qaeda plays for keeps. But don't tell General Reid or Ho Pelo that. The traitors don't want to know. And neither do a lot of you.
The kind of military (in)experience Bush and draft-dodger Cheney have ?
"Be glad you live in a country that tolerates traitors."
President and Vice-President again. Don't worry, they'll be impeached when the time comes.
The two from Senators Carolinas are where the 82nd Airborne are. This idiot from Kentucky is where the 101st Airborne is located. All these Senators are the most ardent supports of this surge and the continued deployment of American troops to Iraq! They have supported everything Bush has done to date! They are also up for Reelection. Write them and let them know what you think!
McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
Class II
361-A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2541
Web Form: mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm
Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
Class II
555 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6342
Web Form: dole.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInformation.C...
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
Class II
290 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5972
Web Form: lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contact
The bozos and brain deads refuse to get it. They're too busy licking off the old spit on their uniforms from their Democratic friends - they probably call it champipple - lol.
As for Abbe, my dear - I'm sure Ho Pelo will have a job for you too - walking the streets of Sadr City...alongside Draft Dodger Cliton. Not sure who would be worse though - the pervert next to you, or your friends ready to blow what is left of your brains out.
Don't forget to go and cry to your w***ore Pelosi - or Field Marshal Reid.
I'd rather go to Bagdhad ... Your friend Freedom fry McCain said it was perfectly safe. You know what ? I'll let you go first.
Our little cheerleader for Hamas, Hizbullah and Al Qaeda is baiting dem Joozs again. A coward won't blame those truly responsible.
Like a Cliton who after playing with the girls sends B-52s, NOT to bomb terrorist sites in Afghanistan, but innocent Serbs in Belgrade.
A Cliton who refused the appeals of John McNeill, murdered on 9/11, to "take out" Bin Laden right after the Cole bombing, because Yasser Arafat wouldn't like it. Neither, presumably would Bluestarbigot.
Or the votes over the years by Kerry, Biden, Murtha, Ho Pelosi, Reid and so many others to deny new weapons for the troops, to improving our Intelligence capabilities.
Or the cowardice and bigotry of Jimmy Carter; his ties to Saudi Oil (get that, Halliburtonites?) while he betrayed the Shah.
No, Bluestarbigot and the other Democratic Traitors have betrayed the military and endangered America's security since 1972. They will indeed be found wanting - and out very soon, but hopefully before they cause more damage to this country.
Remember - that stack of bombs raining down on Belgrade could have demolished an Al Qaeda camp with Bin Laden present. The Dems chose cowardice and treason instead.
Posted by mbcsmith at 09:03 AM : Apr 26, 2007"
Like a country regaining control over its oil ...
Avoiding this is the ONLY reason for troops to stay and will not benefit to the people, just to corporate America. The poor die, the rich make money.
Posted by killtheliars at 09:10 AM : Apr 26, 2007"
Yes, that's the only thing we hear ... red, red whine, from "close to asphyxia" and co.
The political rein of Hanoi Nancy and Filthy Harry will be short lived.
Posted by didntinhale
Yes, this seems to be going real well for Republicans
ABC News/Washington Post Poll. April 12-15, 2007. N=1,141 adults nationwide. MoE 1 3. Fieldwork by TNS.
.
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are doing their job?"
.
Approve 54%
Disapprove 44%
Unsure 2%
"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are doing their job?"
.
Approve 39%
Disapprove 59%
Unsure 2%
Dare I say it....."Mandate".
...
The American Enterprise Institute came up with this Surge Plan Not American Generals!
Contact Information Reuel Marc Gerecht
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
Assistant: 202-862-5926
Fax: 202-862-4875
E-mail: RGerecht@aei.org
Here are Senators from Military states that support Everything Bush has done to keep our troops in this Civil War in Iraq! 101st Airborne in Kentucky and 82nd Airborne In North Carolina! Write them let them know they work for America not Israeli Government!
McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
Class II
361-A RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2541
Web Form: mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm
nDole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
Class II
555 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6342
Web Form: dole.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Con
tactInformation.C...
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
Class II
290 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5972
Web Form: lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contac
t
It is not anti Semitic to believe there are millions of other good people in the Middle East with valid concerns!
READ AS THEY BRAG ABOUT THEIR INFLUENCE ON OUR GOVERNMENT!
http://www.aipac.org/forms/
join_aipacClubs.htm
contact congress
http://www.visi.com/juan/congr
ess/
When an ageing not-so-high class call girl runs to Damascus to "service" the son of the killer of US Marines and the guy truly responsible for Lockerbie - and when that boy she's in love with sends killers across the border into Iraq to capitalize on what his daddy did - its time to pull the plug on traitors.
When a Prune Face Harry who'd gladly vote for Slavery, for terms with the Japanese after Pearl Harbor, tells the American people he is a greater military expert than our Generals are, its time to pull the plug on this guy who never served a day in the Armed Forces (but don't tell Randy BO, Anti-US Advisor, Bluestarbigot (in the midst of his Hitlerian rant), or McVeigh, oops, McVet that. They're too busy having their colons checked - or was that what was left of their brains.
DEMS - TRAITORS - ALL THE TIME.
Posted by didntinhale at 09:24 AM : Apr 26, 2007"
There might be some reasons for that ...
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."%u2014Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004
The problem is ... he meant it.
(1) Bring them back home, take proper care of the wounded and of the families of the victims.
(2) Leave them there without proper equipment, save money on wounded (Walter Reed ...) and families to send even more canon meat over there and fill some
wallets at Halliburton.
We already know Bush choose way no 2 and that's why he will veto the bill.
Posted by VETERAN71 at 09:32 AM : Apr 26, 2007
VETERAN71
AND what branch of service did your hero Slick Willie serve in.
Bwa hahahahahahahahaha
and to explain to us americans how we could be in a occupation and not a war without a decuration of war sign by congress..
so anyone that wants to help me please go to for-america@hotmail.com and ask what you can do..
How ? By a terrorist cell called PNAC ...
Posted by Superpatr898
Most of your post I left out because it was to infantile to repeat. You have no clue what you are even talking about. We do get it!!!! We have gotten it for 5 long years now! The sad part about it all the crazies like you and Didn'tinhale won't ever get it because it requires to much intelligence. But, here it goes again for the millionth time!!!! Bush lied and the troops are dying(is that plain enough for you kindergarteners)!!! It doesn't make any difference why the liar did it! That's immaterial now. Except the war was lost 5 years ago when he started it(he should have left an adult run it). We all know it might be a blood bath when we leave but it is anyway! So what difference does it make. Where is the point in asking troops to get killed for a lost cause that should have never happened??? Or do either one of you even care about the troops???? Are you so drunk on the idea of endless war that you have ceased to care? I have serious doubts you neocon's care about anything! So, you can leave the infantile street gargon with your crayons at the desk when you go home!
The Bill should be called the Make the Chimp Do His Job Bill.
We've done everything we can to prepare the Iraqi government and security forces to stand on their own. We've been doing it for longer than it took to win any war in our history.
The enemy has known all along that we wouldn't stay forever and so should the Iraqi government. Since the Iraqi government serves the Iranians they don't care. As long as we stay they'll keep blaming us for their incompetence.
The surge initially led to a lull because our enemy was studying our movements. Now they've gone back on the attack in Baghdad.
The only way to get out of this with any dignity whatsoever is to use the relative lull created by the temporary surge(it can't be sustained for years)to seek a diplomatic solutions with the parties in the region. There is no purely military solution.
Now that the Democrats are putting the heat on the Republicans are turning up the rhetoric. They're also moving toward diplomacy which they would never have done without pressure.
Typcial liberal double standard
If it was OK for Clinton to get a deferment, then it's OK for Bush to do the same.
If you didn't complain about Clinton's deferment, you can't complain about Bush's deferment.
Remember, Clinton lowered the bar, or raised the bar, depending on your point of view
Dumb-a-s-s
nobody for 1000's of years cared. so if it was up to be i would drop the bigest h-boom we have on them and let anyone say something..i tell them they are next..iran,china,ussr
...
The right-wingers are increasingly isolated and desperate. Their infantile attacks on the dem leadership show this. They enjoyed an era where their extremist views were accepted as mainstream. No longer. You people can once again fill the slot in the minority as far right-wing fringe lunatics. With any luck your side will NEVER wield the power and influence it once did ever again.
Posted by Red1530
Nor does the war in the first place. To attack a country that did not attack us first....DUH!! At least it's UN-American to most of us.
Posted by notblue
Nothing you will ever say will convince these people that how we exit is important. They are deluded in their hate for Bush and cannot see the end-result of abandoning Iraq. They will give you stats, will compliment this group of socialists on the hill who don't even have the courtesy to listen to the boots on the ground. They don't care. President Harry is counting the numbers Chuck Schumer gave him about losing the war and wining the next election. These people along with this Congress are lefties gone wild. Can't pay too much attention to them. Afraid that calling to mind what 9/11 meant is a fear tactic. Well, hey, don't be surprised when, not if, it happens again. They don't understand the Constitution, either. Why even Murtha thinks it's his job to micromanage the war not realizing the Congress can only do one thing -- fund or defund. Azzholes all of them.
Posted by Superpatr898
Sez you. Now how about sharing your background in security so that we can all be in awe of your superior knowledge...NOT!!!
Posted by notblue at 09:52 AM : Apr 26, 2007
notblue, the only war that has been declared is a war on terror. The last time war was declared was WW II. Korea - conflict, Nam - conflict - Desert Storm - conflict etc.... get your facts straight. While I am at it, could you please give me a description of who we are fighting? My nephew and my neighbor that are over there would like to know.
Face it war supporters - your time has come and gone. You will lose this battle and the nation will bring the troops home from a bloody civil war that we can stop (and, tragically, we created.)
These cowards and traitors on the Democratic side of the Isle will be judged Politically for this next year.
(The above is part of : Posted by didntinhale at 09:30 AM : Apr 26, 2007)
------------
didntinhale, shouldn%u2019t that read: REPUBLICAN SURRENDER BILL?
The republican supported, fraudulent Bush administration destroyers of the constitution and the American way, were judged politically LAST YEAR?
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
...
- 20
- next
See all 997 Comments