GOP Senators: Change Course On Iraq Now
Several Republicans Say They Don’t Want To Wait Until September
-
Play CBS Video
Video
Exclusive: Pullout Problems
A new study on a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq reveals a two-year timeline and dangers involved under attack conditions. David Martin has exclusive details.
-
Video
Bush's Preemptive Strike
President Bush is asking for more time with the Iraq troop surge as the calls for withdrawal increase. Polls show most Americans want an exit by spring. Jim Axelrod reports.
-
Video
War Debate Heats Up In D.C.
As Congress prepares to vote on a defense budget, a report on the troop surge in Iraq will be released this week. The White House urges caution in reading the report. Susan Roberts reports.
-
Photo
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, said she would back Democratic legislation ordering U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq to begin in 120 days. (AP)
-
Interactive
Iraq: 4 Years Later
The conflict wears on as the nation struggles to rebuild.
-
Interactive
Battle For Iraq
The government, the insurgency, key players, background and photos.
-
Interactive
110th Congress
The balance of power shifts and new leadership takes control as the latest session convenes.
The meeting that lawmakers had with national security adviser Stephen Hadley came as GOP Sens. Olympia Snowe and Chuck Hagel announced they would back Democratic legislation ordering combat to end next spring.
CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports exclusively that a U.S. pullout would be extremely complicated, dangerous and would take two years if the military takes all its equipment out, according to a study recently presented to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Republican support for the war has steadily eroded in recent weeks as the White House prepared an interim progress report that found that the U.S.-backed government in Baghdad has made little progress in meeting major targets of reform.
Of the GOP lawmakers who say the U.S. should reduce its military role in Iraq, nearly all are up for re-election in 2008.
"I'm hopeful they (the White House) change their minds," said Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.
Domenici and at least five other Republicans support a bill by Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., that would adopt as U.S. policy the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group Report.
The bipartisan panel, led by Republican James A. Baker III and Democrat Lee Hamilton, said the U.S. should hand off the combat mission to the Iraqis, bolster diplomatic efforts in the region and pave the way for a drawdown of troops by spring 2008.
Domenici, who is expected to face voters next year, said he and other co-sponsors told Hadley the president shouldn't wait until September to adopt the bipartisan policy.
"The only difference of opinion at the moment is the president wants to deal with the Baker-Hamilton recommendations in September," said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., one of the first GOP co-sponsors.
"I think he should do that today because it develops a long-term strategy for what happens in the surge," added Alexander, who also is up for re-election. "It would put him and Congress on the same path, which is what we definitely need."
Members said Hadley did not indicate the White House would switch gears. Mr. Bush this week said he will not reconsider the military strategy in Iraq until Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. military commander there, delivers his progress report in September.
"He was not in a position to do anything other than say 'I hear you,'" Domenici said of Hadley.
Other Republicans at the meeting did not call for immediate change, but offered tepid support for the current policy.
Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota said he was seriously considering Salazar's legislation and remained gravely concerned about the lack of progress in Iraq.
"I'm still in the same place, and I don't think there were any hearts or minds changed in there," Coleman said upon leaving the meeting.
Sen. John Warner, R-Va., who also attended the meeting, is expected to call for a change in Iraq policy after Mr. Bush releases on Thursday that interim report on Baghdad's political progress.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a staunch supporter of Mr. Bush's Iraq policies, said he and many others would stick behind the president. But "obviously everyone was concerned, and we're trying to figure out what the answer is," he said.
GOP support has become crucial as the Senate opened debate on a $649 billion defense policy bill.
Meanwhile, CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss reports seven Senate Republicans broke with the president Wednesday and voted with Democrats to consider an amendment by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., to require that troops returning from Iraq get more rest and training before being sent back.
But with Republican leaders using a filibuster to block any Iraq amendments, it would have taken 60 votes to move forward and they fell four votes short, 56-41.
The Senate is expected to vote next week on an amendment by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., that would order troop withdrawals to begin in 120 days and end all combat on April 30, 2008. The House plans to take up a similar measure on Thursday.
Levin's amendment is not expected to survive and Mr. Bush has vowed to veto it if it does. But in a signal of growing unease with the war, it has picked up at least one new vote from Snowe of Maine.
Snowe initially opposed setting a firm deadline, contending it would not make any sense to broadcast war plans to the enemy. But the senator, who is up for re-election next year, said she decided to switch her position because the situation has grown too dire.
"Frankly, given the fact that the Iraqi government isn't prepared to change its own political direction, we should be prepared to change course with respect to our strategy," Snowe told reporters Tuesday.
Hagel of Nebraska and Gordon Smith, R-Ore., also signed on as co-sponsors of the bill; both voted for a similar measure earlier this year.
Hadley's visit to Capitol Hill came as the White House finalized a 23-page progress report on Iraq that concludes the government in Baghdad has made little progress in meeting reform goals laid down by Mr. Bush and Congress.
The administration is likely to argue that some progress has been made in reducing the level of sectarian violence and militia control. Iraq also has established several, but not all, of the needed joint neighborhood security stations in Baghdad and has increased the number of capable Iraqi security units.
But the report also is expected to concede that several major goals have not been met, including agreement on new Iraqi laws to allocate oil and gas resources and revenue and to address amnesty for former Baath Party members. White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the report will indicate whether there has been "progress at a satisfactory rate, or unsatisfactory rate, and in some cases, maybe mixed results on some of those benchmarks."
© 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
...
- 8
- next
See all 361 CommentsRegardless whether they stay or leave, they should not be "patrolling" the streets of Baghdad, or anywhere else.
Soldiers are not policemen and using them as such is a gross misuse of their services. It does not take five years to "train" policemen.
Obviously, Iraqis intend to sit on their lazy azzes and let brave young Americans do their dying for them.
Enough is enough. Regardless whether they stay or go, they should not leave their fortified compounds unless they are directly attacked. And, then only to dispel the attackers.
George Bush is the worst president in US history and his "generals" are as incompetent as he.
hundreds of thousands died.
will america hold bush responsible?
i mean, will bush hang on the gallows?
will bush be tortured before he is hung?
will bush be allowed to escape to the south where he will be given political asylum?
only gawd knows.
ha,ha,ha.
war, hate, arrogance, republican christian snakes...
nothing good comes out of the south!
Last December, when Bush rebuffed a bipartisan exit strategy presented by the Iraq Study Group, he said he would leave the decision to withdraw from Iraq to his successor.
That question is "not going to face this government," Bush said, chuckling slightly at a news conference with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, "because we made up our mind. We've made that part clear. It'll face future governments. There will be future opportunities for people to say, 'Well, it's not worth it. Let's just retreat.' "
Since then, nearly 700 more American soldiers have died in a war that has now lasted more than four years, lost the lives of more than 3,600 U.S. troops, cost $10 billion a month -- and cost Republicans control of the House and Senate.
anyone that sides with this should be held for the murders of all troops
I'm surprised that she had the character to vote against the Bush amnesty bill. It would be wonderful if she would renounce the evil Neo-Con scum in the Bush Administration, really stand up for the troops, and demand that they come home, NOW!
Posted by pepperp1 at 12:24 PM : Jul 11, 2007
Congress may not have grounds to impeach (yet), but they most certainly have the authority to stop passing legislation and cut off funding for this insanity.
Democrats whining about "not having enough votes" is pure nonsense. All they have to do is stand up and announce that until there is a change in policy in Iraq, they will enact no further legislation.
Until that mess is resolved, Congress should come to an absolute halt. Let the "American people" suffer if they want to continue inflicting death and destruction on our soldiers.
Enough is enough. There should be NO US soldiers on the streets of Baghdad or anywhere else.
If Bush wants to "patrol" the streets of Baghdad, let him, the GOP and their "generals" do it. And, let them take their supporters with him.
George Bush is the worst president in US history, without exception.
" they'll throw roses at us. "
" bring 'em on! "
ha,ha,ha.
those simple minded southerners love that kinda talk, boy!
those republicans know exactly how to control the south.
a little flag waving here, a little bible thumping there...
those southern creeps are ready to do whatever the republican party tells them do.
ha,ha,ha.
simple minds, christian creeps, belligerent mentality, superstitious, fearful...
that's the s bush loving south for you, folks!
Normal political processes (elections, budget allocations, etc.)will end the war. The real danger now seems to be that the war will end without the proper degree of caution, just because people are tired of it (as McCain says).
The same 75% of people who wanted the war w/o considering the consequences in the first place now want withdrawal w/o considering the consequences. No wonder our founding fathers feared direct popular rule.
More like Bu$h to invade Iran or do another 9/11 to grab higher poll points about now...
In his mind, he is playing with toy soldiers, he is totally out of touch with reality and needs to be in a padded room as soon as possible.
Cheney, on the other hand, needs to be in the white jacket, locked up with space under the door to pass his food through.
These two nut case terrorists are a danger to our country and the world and need to be impeached now!!
Most of the voters here in North Carolina would love to send Liddy Dole back to Kansas.
The polls here show that she's pretty much toast, except none of the high profile Dems want to run for the seat. She has no money and she's alienated the public on a variety of issues, but the potential opponents are running for Governor or staying put where they are.
Whoever has the gonads to run against her will win. Even though she doesn't have an opponent she's running scared.
Sorry, we aren't questioning the presidents sanity--we're complaining about the lack of it.
We have already suffered the consequence of this war for way to long--and unless you have a family member thats been there, already there or going there you have no idea what suffering and consequence is.
For an umpteen number of years your family legacy has been the death and destruction of that country. I'm sorry to say, Mr. Bush, that for the sake of my country you have to go.
Its not about you, fella.. no more.
That means that the number of Senators supporting Bush is dropping and the magic number of 60 votes to over ride a veto is closer and closer.
Bush has never been shy of twisting arms to get his way. Of course he is going to plead, beg or threaten to make these wayward republicans come back to him.
But, with elections getting closer and more and more Americans saying "Bring them home" his efforts will hardly succeed. He may be able to talk some of them into waiting until Sept 15, but even that is iffy.
The *** Iraqi parliment is taking MONTH OF AUGUST VACATION, like they have been doing enough work to deserve a vacation.
This is enough!!! If the Iraqi parliment wants vacation instead of working, why are we still there, getting our men killed????????
Best move to Paraguay before yer term is up.
As a result, I despise this President's decision to place our military in the position being held accountable for the public's perception of our progress in Iraq.
If things are going badly, they can lie and remain promotable but must in turn accept the personal moral responsibility for unnecessary casualties, or they can tell the truth and kiss their careers good-bye.
You know in your heart that if things were going well the President would have siezed all credit possible and a sentence such as "They expect for military people to come back and tell us how the military operations are going" would never have graced his Highness's lips.
Posted by secundus2 at 12:47 PM : Jul 11, 2007
I have no doubt in my mind at all that such legal grounds do exist, the evidence is there, however, the evidence is locked in Presidential secrecy until the statute of time runs out on declassifying this administration's paper trail.
You can bet when that time runs out, there will be scores of lawyers and prosecutors going over Bush's presidential library files... unfortunately, many of the real witnesses that could testify will be dead by then and this son-ofa-b#tch will never be held accountable..
May he rot in hell for a thousand years.
We'll win in Iraq alright.. don't you worry about it. We'll win by giving back those people's country. By giving them their country back, while *we* take *back* ours. And send you and your cronies to the Hague. *For crimes against humanity*(sic).
In his mind, he is playing with toy soldiers, he is totally out of touch with reality and needs to be in a padded room as soon as possible.
Cheney, on the other hand, needs to be in the white jacket, locked up with space under the door to pass his food through.
These two nut case terrorists are a danger to our country and the world and need to be impeached now!!
Posted by liberalme at 12:51 PM : Jul 11, 2007
I agree !
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be held accountable to you in a court of law.
You have the right to an attorney.
If you can't afford one, one will be appointed to you.
Do you understand these rights I have given you?
jefferson davis lost his,
johnson lost his
bush will lose his.
the south has lost every war they started.
idiot southern creeps are only good for sunday afternoon parades
in their tight-butt uniforms.
ha,ha,ha.
war, division, arrogance, phony christian creeps, crooked republican snakes...
nothing good comes out of the south!
Posted by clestes at 01:02 PM : Jul 11, 2007
"Threaten" is the most likely option.
Those illegal wiretaps were not used to spy on "terrorists," they were used to spy on Bush administration opponents, including members of his own party.
And that is why the Bush administration is claiming "executive privilege" when it comes to answering questions about that program.
The only "national security" issue that was involved was the Bush administration attempting to hang onto their control of "national security" so they could continue lining their pockets.
George Bush is a criminal as is nearly everyone in his administration, including his vice president and attorney general.
Last December, when Bush rebuffed a bipartisan exit strategy presented by the Iraq Study Group, he said he would leave the decision to withdraw from Iraq to his successor.
That question is "not going to face this government," Bush said, chuckling slightly at a news conference with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, "because we made up our mind. We've made that part clear. It'll face future governments. There will be future opportunities for people to say, 'Well, it's not worth it. Let's just retreat.' "
Since then, nearly 700 more American soldiers have died in a war that has now lasted more than four years, lost the lives of more than 3,600 U.S. troops, cost $10 billion a month -- and cost Republicans control of the House and Senate.
instead, he's the one making all the trouble.
bush has that arrogant, southern attitude towards life.
only force will suffice.
no diplomacy, no negotiation, no compromise, no tolerance...
that's why bush, like those other 2 dixie losers jefferson davis and johnson, will lose his war in iraq.
bush loving slave state south...bad for america!
nothing good comes out of the south!
What happens when a volcano erupts?
When the volcano erupts, lava, ash, cinders, dust, and hot gas can pour out ... and explanations of what causes volcanoes and what happens when they erupt.
The Bush administration is under intense pressure to tell the truth, the volcanoes about to blow.
From the Huffington Post.
Just moments ago, Senate Republicans succeeded in a filibuster in which they refused to end debate on Virginia Democrat Jim Webb's S. 2012, which would have placed strict limits on National Guard and reserve deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as well as mandating more downtime at home before active-duty combat troops are returned to battle.
The vote was 56-41 to end debate, with 60 votes needed to move to a full, up-or-down vote on the Webb measure. Once again, the GOP has been successful at destroying another Democratic attempt at helping service members and their families caught in the buzzsaw of the Bush administration's lies and incompetence.
Typical Repug Chickenhawks, showing how much they REALLY care for America's military families
"WHITE HOUSE LOBBIES REALITY SUPPORT ON IRAQ"
(AP) The Bush administration, fighting fearsome resistence to it's plan for Iraq, lobbied reality today in order to shore up eroding support from democrats and members of his own party.
Tony Snow said during a press conference: "Yes, the surge isn't working, and no, the Iraq government hasn't met any of the benchmarks laid out for it. Sectarian violence continues and US troops are dying daily. But we are pressing reality to change it's position on these issues to bring these facts more in line with the administration's pre-determined conclusions. In short, we are asking reality for more time and to try to alter it's very nature so we can succeed in Iraq.
Reality was unavailable for comment.
The time has come to take our country back!
Last December, when Bush rebuffed a bipartisan exit strategy presented by the Iraq Study Group, he said he would leave the decision to withdraw from Iraq to his successor.
That question is "not going to face this government," Bush said, chuckling slightly at a news conference with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, "because we made up our mind. We've made that part clear. It'll face future governments. There will be future opportunities for people to say, 'Well, it's not worth it. Let's just retreat.' "
Since then, nearly 700 more American soldiers have died in a war that has now lasted more than four years, lost the lives of more than 3,600 U.S. troops, cost $10 billion a month -- and cost Republicans control of the House and Senate.
time for a revolution
Posted by oleander8 at 01:39 PM : Jul 11, 2007
You can bet your bottom dollar that this near-daily jumping ship by one Repub or another is about self-preservation or self-advancement.
Nothing has changed since these idiots were applauding Bush's stupidity in Iraq except that America is now fed up and looking for scalps.
bush is just the latest snake to come out of that dark, malicious region of america.
the south never does good for america.
always war, hate, ignorance, death, bigotry, extremism, arrogance, evil christians and republican snakes.
america would be much better off if we could be rid of those southern states.
i say: " let the mexicans have them! "
free of charge!
ha,ha,ha.
war, hate, arrogance, phony dixie christians...
nothing good comes out of the south!
ABOARD USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CNN) -- President Bush made a landing aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln Thursday, arriving in the co-pilot's seat of a Navy S-3B Viking after making two fly-bys of the carrier.
Moments after the landing, the president, wearing a green flight suit and holding a white helmet, got off the plane, saluted those on the flight deck and shook hands with them. Above him, the tower was adorned with a big sign that read, "Mission Accomplished."
CNN.com - Iraq insurgency in 'last throes,' Cheney says - May 31, 2005The insurgency in Iraq is "in the last throes," Vice President *** Cheney says, and he predicts that the fighting will end before the Bush administration ...
Thursday, June 15, 2006; Page A23
President Bush said yesterday that the United States is making steady progress in Iraq toward its goal of standing up a government that can sustain and protect the country
CNN.com - Bush calls end to 'major combat' - May. 2, 2003... televised address that major combat operations in Iraq have ended
Jan 18, 2007 10:22 pm US/Central
Retired Generals Slam Bush's Iraq Plan
(CBS News) WASHINGTON The President's troop build-up -- already taking political fire from both Democrats and Republicans -- came under withering attack on Thursday from a panel of retired generals on Capitol Hill, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.
the bush loving south sees that they've accomplished their mission in iraq.
now, they're gathering all their right wing republicans and christian creeps in south carolina...
to plot the next humilliating failure for america.
leave it to those southern creeps to do their worst to america.
war, hate, arrogance, reborns and rednecks...
nothing good comes out of the south!
GOD how sick we all are of this! There's a new report out saying the war in Iraq hasn't harmed Al-Qaeda at all. So, as if this wasn't awful enough it's been for no good reason. Or worse, the nation's detriment!
The US has a major headache going away, and it's got GW Bush and the GOP written all over it. Next year's elections can't come soon enough. The people will vote those into power who will pledge to end this abomination!
a little flag waving here, a little bible thumping there,
those ignorant southerners fall right in line, boy!
i mean, those southerners got gawd on their side.
now how can you beat that?
war, hate, christian creeps, republican snakes...
nothing good comes out of the south!
Will Munny: Who's the fellow owns this ********?
[pause]
Will Munny: You, fat man. Speak up.
Skinny Dubois: Uh, I... I own this establishment. I bought the place from Greeley for a thousand dollars.
[Will levels the shotgun, and speaks to someone standing behind Skinny]
Will Munny: You better clear outta there.
Man: Yes, sir.
[scampers out of the way]
Little Bill Daggett: Just hold it right there. Hold it...!
[Will shoots Skinny. Screaming, the women scatter upstairs]
Little Bill Daggett: Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a ***! You just shot an unarmed man!
Will Munny: Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend.
they're harvesting all that cheese from those fat azzed dixie women.
grab yourself one of those obese southern mamas,
lift up that fat ol' tittie and scrape yourself a handful of that dixie cheese.
hmmmm...foul, but aromatic.
don't forget the saltines!
ha,ha,ha.
war, hate, arrogance, ignorance, phony christian creeps, crooked republican snakes...
nothing good comes out of the south!
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
...
- 8
- next
See all 361 Comments