Iraq pullout measure moves with war bill

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

Iraq pullout measure moves with war bill By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer
49 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - A Senate committee approved a $122 billion measure Thursday financing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but also defying President Bush by calling on him to pull combat troops out of Iraq by next spring.

The bill, approved by a voice vote, is similar to one the House began debating Thursday. Both measures have drawn veto threats from the White House, which has said Congress must allow more time for the U.S. troop increase in Iraq to work.

Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee had hoped to delete the withdrawal language. But facing likely defeat, they decided to postpone that effort until the full Senate takes up the spending measure, as early as Monday.

"I don't believe that we — from Washington — can judge the conditions on the battlefield," said Sen. Christopher Bond (news, bio, voting record), R-Mo.

Democrats, who have been trying to figure out how to pressure Bush to wind down the war, said the withdrawal language was necessary to force the Iraqi government to take more responsibility. It would require U.S. troops to begin leaving Iraq within four months of passage, and would set a nonbinding goal of March 31, 2008, for the removal of combat troops.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070322/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq;_ylt=AkujVrvomg_g6IG5yC0oiJmyFz4D

[rodeodance]

1. i am not gettting my hopes up that this will pass the Senate.

[OneBlueSky]

2. even if this passes, you can bet that Bush will issue a "signing statement" . . .

that completely negates he withdrawel provision of the bill . . . does Congress then take on the whole issue of signing statements? . . . and take it all the way to SCOTUS? . . . I won't hold my breath . . .

[maddezmom]

3. bush as already said he'll veto

Debate Over Iraq Pullout Aside, Bush Needs a War Spending Bill

By Michael Abramowitz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 22, 2007; Page A06

With the House facing a critical vote on Iraq this week, the White House finds itself embroiled in a fierce legislative battle to keep money flowing to the war effort, with the outcome dependent on its ability to show real progress in Baghdad and keep Republicans in line behind its veto strategy.

Prodded by liberal activists and emboldened by polls showing the war becoming more unpopular, Democratic leaders have gone further than many imagined possible only a few months ago. They have united a cross section of the party behind a plan for a phased withdrawal of U.S. combat troops to be completed by August 2008, part of a war spending package to be considered today on the House floor.

The immediate danger for the White House is not that the Democrats have the power to impose a timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Even if the Democrats muster the 218 votes necessary to pass the bill, the plan would have an uncertain future in the Senate and would face a veto in the unlikely event it arrives at President Bush's desk in its current form.

The bigger problem for the administration is making sure it receives a spending bill from Congress that Bush feels he can sign -- and to get it in a timely manner. The Pentagon is desperate for the additional funds in the bill -- about $100 billion for the efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and Democrats are hoping that fact may provide them the leverage to begin forcing changes in administration policy.

more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/21/AR2007032102004.html

[EFerrari]

5. The Pentagon is desparate for additional funds?

Cry me a river.

[EFerrari]

4. I hate this "force the Iraqi government to take responsibility" bull.

Classic blame the victim to provide a fig leaf for the war profiteers in our government.

What utter cr@p!