Democratic 'war council' prepares binding resolution to limit Iraq deployments.

ProSense

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Feb-22-07 10:49 PM
Original message

Democratic 'war council' prepares binding resolution to limit Iraq deployments.

Edited on Thu Feb-22-07 11:26 PM by ProSense

Democrats Seek to Revise 2002 War Authorization

By Shailagh Murray and Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, February 23, 2007; Page A01

Senate Democratic leaders intend to unveil a plan next week to repeal the 2002 resolution authorizing the war in Iraq in favor of narrower authority that restricts the military's role and begins withdrawals of combat troops.

Snip...

"I've had enough of 'nonbinding,' " said Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), who is helping to draft the new Democratic proposal. The 2002 war resolution, he said, is an obvious target.

"The authorization that we gave the president back in 2002 is completely, completely outdated, inappropriate to what we're engaged in today," he said.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) began calling for a reauthorization of the war early last month and raised it again last week, during a gathering in the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.). Participants included Kerry, Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl M. Levin (Mich.), Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), Jack Reed (R.I.) and Russell Feingold (Wis.). Those Democratic senators have emerged as an unofficial war council representing the caucus's wide range of views.

"We gave the president that power to destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and, if necessary, to depose Saddam Hussein," Biden said of the 2002 resolution in a speech last week before the Brookings Institution. "The WMD was not there. Saddam Hussein is no longer there. The 2002 authorization is no longer relevant to the situation in Iraq."

more...

Earlier this month Senator Kerry introduced www.setadeadline.com, asking Americans to co-sponsor a binding resolution:

If you agree it is time to set a deadline, come to SetADeadline.com and become a citizen co-sponsor of the legislation.

In addition to setting a deadline, my legislation includes many of the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group and will:

* launch a major diplomatic initiative, the only hope for a resolution in Iraq

* enforce a series of benchmarks to hold Iraqis accountable for meeting key political objectives

* change the American military mission to training Iraqi security forces and counter-terrorism operations

* maintain an over the horizon presence to protect American regional interests.

Now that a new Democratic Congressional majority has convened in the U.S. Capitol, a deadline must be set. The President must respect the real needs of our troops and the will of the American people.

Step by step, we will ensure that he does.

Set A Deadline

BE HEARD:

Senate Kerry appealed to other Democrats:

Dear Colleague:

As the 110th Congress begins debate on Iraq, I will be introducing legislation that offers a comprehensive strategy for achieving a political solution and bringing U.S. troops home within one year. I write to ask you to co-sponsor this legislation.

Eight months ago, thirteen of us stood together in calling for a one year deadline for the redeployment of most U.S. troops from Iraq. I am more convinced than ever that a combination of serious, sustained diplomacy and the enforcement of benchmarks for progress by the Iraqi government, leveraged by a one year deadline for redeployment of U.S. troops, is the best way to achieve our goal of stability in Iraq and security in the region.

Let me emphasize that this strategy does not mean abandoning Iraq in one year: in fact, it provides the President the discretion to leave the minimum number of United States troops necessary to complete the training of Iraqi security forces, go after terrorists, and protect United States facilities and personnel.

Our country is strongest when we work together to craft solutions that are in our nation�s best interest. The bipartisan Iraq Study Group recently issued a series of important recommendations. Many of them, which are consistent with proposals that some here in the Senate have long advocated, are incorporated in this legislation � including launching a major diplomatic initiative, enforcing a series of benchmarks for meeting key political objectives, shifting the military mission to training Iraqi security forces and conducting targeted counter-terrorism operations, and maintaining an over-the-horizon presence to protect our interests throughout the region.

�

�We must give the Iraqis more control over their own destiny, as they have repeatedly requested � and make them accountable for making the hard political compromises necessary to achieve a lasting political solution. That means recognizing that Iraqi politicians have repeatedly shown they only respond to deadlines � a deadline to transfer authority, deadlines to hold two elections and a referendum, and a deadline to form a government.

�

Finally, the current military mission in Iraq goes far beyond what Congress approved in the original 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq. This legislation establishes that the authorization for use of military force is now limited to implementing the strategy set forth this legislation.

�

The time has come for a Congress that shares some responsibility for getting America into war in Iraq to provide a realistic strategy for getting us out. I believe that the strategy set forth in this legislation provides the best way forward for America and for Iraq. I hope you will join me as a co-sponsor.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

John F. Kerry

Set A Deadline

The Democrats unofficial war council will add the legislation to a must-pass funding bill next week.

Good move!

More here: HUGE: Senate Dems move to REVOKE war authorization!

Democratic 'war council' prepares binding resolution to limit Iraq deployments.

Democrats Seek to Revise 2002 War Authorization

Today's Must Read