(Democratic)Senators set Iraq deadline in war bill

[maddezmom]

Source: Associated Press

Senators set Iraq deadline in war bill By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer
2 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats have drafted a $121.5 billion war spending bill that would direct President Bush to begin bringing home troops from Iraq with the goal of ending U.S. combat missions there in just over a year.

The provision is similar to a resolution the Senate narrowly rejected last week. It failed on a 50-48 vote, falling 12 votes shy of the 60 needed to pass, after President Bush vowed to veto the legislation.

"United States troops should not be policing a civil war, and the current conflict in Iraq requires principally a political solution," states a copy of the draft bill, obtained by The Associated Press. It would provide Bush with instructions to end combat operations there by March 31, 2008.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (news, bio, voting record), D-W.Va., released details to panel members Wednesday in anticipation of a committee vote on the bill on Thursday.

Republicans and even some Democrats are expected to bristle at the inclusion of the Iraq policy provision.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070321/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq

[w4rma]

1. Good. (nt)

[IWantAChange]

2. Let them 'bristle' - open debate about the war is what this country needs....

[Rydz777]

3. Hope

It sounds good and I hope it has an effect. BUT on Charlie Rose last night Gen. William Odum said that 2008 is too late, that we should get out NOW. It was a powerful statement and he pointed out that our ground forces (Army and Marines) are worn down and their equipment worn out. He said it will take years and billions of dollars to build them back up. Perhaps most important of all, the deaths and maiming of our youth in military service will leave a lasting scar. PLEASE, Sen. Byrd and all patriotic Senators, extract our troops from this insanity.

[rodeodance]

4. umm. but the House will vote on Thursday! (not passed yet folks)

The House is expected to vote Thursday on a $124 billion spending bill that would finance the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The House bill would demand that troops are out of Iraq before September 2008, possibly sooner

[whoneedstickets]

5. A War-Ending provision should be part of EVERY funding bill...

If the Bush and his Rethugs want their $ to fund the war, then the appropriation should come with a termination tag. No spending bill without a war-ending provision should pass out of either chamber. Bush can then veto all the war spending bills he wants!