NYT editorial: Democrats Find Their Voice (Iraq)

[ProSense]

Editorial

Democrats Find Their Voice

Published: November 17, 2007

It has been two long months since Gen. David Petraeus, the top commander in Iraq, cowed Congressional Democrats into silence, championing President Bush’s misguided course on the war. We’re pleased to see that the effects of his briefing are finally wearing off. The bad news, as ever, is that Mr. Bush and his Republican allies continue to resist reason.

House Democrats distinguished themselves this week when they stood up to the White House’s latest military funding steamroller: approving only $50 billion of the additional $196 billion the president requested for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also set conditions on the funding, including demands that troops start coming home from Iraq within 30 days and that the withdrawal be completed by mid-December 2008.

Senate Democrats quickly brought the House plan to the floor. But, ever the spoilers, Republicans blocked it, as they have other attempts to rein in Mr. Bush’s war-without-end in Iraq.

Predictably, the White House — which always prefers fear-mongering to serious debate — accused Democrats of undermining the troops. Even Defense Secretary Robert Gates got into the act, threatening to direct the Army and Marine Corps to begin developing plans to lay off employees and terminate contracts next year unless Congress approves new funding within days.

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[Vincardog]

1. Mr. Gates should start by terminating any contract with HELLIburton and KBR.

[mzmolly]

2. Let's hope we don't get laryngitis again in the near future.

Nice Op Ed. :toast:

[ProSense]

3. Dem radio address

by Sen. Casey:

As millions of us gather with our families this week to enjoy Thanksgiving, more than 170,000 brave young Americans will spend their holiday in Iraq. They will face the chaos of another country’s civil war, just as they do every day. They will face hatred they did not create and sectarian violence they cannot possibly resolve.They are doing a remarkable job. A heroic job.