Dems to propose Iraq withdrawal by ’08

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17510666/

House Democratic leaders intend to propose legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the fall of 2008, and even earlier if the Iraqi government fails to meet security and other goals, Democratic officials said Wednesday night.

The conditions, described as tentative until presented to the Democratic rank and file, would be added to legislation providing nearly $100 billion the Bush administration has requested for fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the officials said.

The legislation is expected on the floor of the House later this month, and would mark the most direct challenge to date the new Democratic-controlled Congress has posed to the president’s war policies.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office announced plans for a Thursday morning news conference to unveil the measure, without providing any of the details. It said she would be joined by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., and other key lawmakers. Murtha is chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Pentagon’s budget and is among the House’s most outspoken opponents of the war.

But Democrats familiar with the emerging legislation said the bill would require President Bush to certify that the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was making progress toward providing for his country’s security, allocating its oil revenues and creating a fair system for amending its constitution.

that if it doesn't pass, no $$ for the Iraq war.

at www.icasualties.org We had no place being there in the first place.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/03/aptrooppullout070308/

Democrats to unveil fall 2008 pullout plan

By David Espo - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Mar 8, 2007 6:12:57 EST

In a direct challenge to President Bush, House Democrats are advancing legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the fall of next year.

Democratic officials who described the measure said the timetable would be accelerated — to the end of 2007 — if the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki does not meet goals for providing Iraq’s security.

The conditions, described as tentative until presented to the Democratic rank and file Thursday, would be added to legislation providing nearly $100 billion the Bush administration has requested for fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The officials who described the measure did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to speak until after it was presented to the Democratic caucus. They also stressed the provisions were tentative until then.......

then fine. I am beyond sick of them playing politics with lives.

655,000 Iraqis died within the first 3.5 years -- that is 15,000+ per month -- and the rate is rising.

I guess that 15,000+ lives per month doesn't seem important to U.S. politicians when they are weighing those lives against the chance of their not being re-elected.

My disgust knows no bounds.

:puke:

I just wrote basically the same thing in another thread. My "frustration" knows no bounds.

As I understoodit, the plan is to hold the Prez accountable for meeting the timetables he has set and getting Maliki's commitments accomplaished as well. If the schudeles are not met, Congress will forcea withdrawl. The only quote I recallis "In any event,ALL troops will be OUT of Iraq by the end of 2008, and this war WILL NOT carry over to another administration.

He admits that successful politics is all about compromise, but the feels this plan will be acceptable to the majority in Congress.

.....Underscoring the debate among Democrats, several opponents of the war issued a statement late Wednesday saying they “have had a constructive dialogue with members of our party’s leadership. ... However, at this time, we have not reached any final agreement.”

The statement was issued in the name of Reps. Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee and Diane Watson of California; Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York; Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas and Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota.

Even so, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office announced plans for a Thursday news conference to unveil the measure, providing no details. The announcement said she would be joined by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., and other key lawmakers. Murtha is chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Pentagon’s budget and is among the House’s most outspoken opponents of the war.

Pelosi and the leadership have struggled in recent days to come up with an approach on the war that would satisfy liberals reluctant to vote for continued funding without driving away more moderate Democrats unwilling to be seen as tying the hands of military commanders.

Repubs will most certainly try to capitalize on this for the election at that time. They will try to make people forget that it was a Dem initiative. Dems will have to be on their toes and ready to fight to keep this from becoming a political liability.

They are following high priced Democratic consultants advice here and ignoring what the American people want.

I am really beginning to hate these guys. You know the ones who are even having their Presidential debate hosted by FauxNews. Those guys.

If we're still at war in Nov 08, the Democrats get a bigger advantage in the election.

Not that the Democratic leadership would exploit the war ...

But it's a winning strategy.