House Iraq Resolution Turns Into Debate (Partisan Brawl on Floor) [View All]

[UpInArms]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=8&u=/ap/20040317/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq

WASHINGTON - A four-paragraph resolution praising U.S. troops and the Iraqi people on the first anniversary of the war in Iraq (news - web sites) turned into a partisan brawl on the House floor Wednesday, with Democrats saying the Republican-written measure was aimed at endorsing President Bush (news - web sites)'s policies.

Republicans defended language stating that the removal of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) from power had made the United States and the world a safer place.

The resolution, said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., "really sends a message to the world that this country stands resolute in celebration of the first anniversary of our commitment to Iraq."

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"This resolution is more about what the Republican leadership wants us to forget about the past year," said Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., "the costs, the bloated contracts, the lies, no weapons, no ties to Al- Qaida, the flawed intelligence, the wounded and the dead."

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