Top Commander Denounces Call for Iraq Withdrawal Deadline

WP ^ | Nov 16 2005 | Ellen Knickmeyer

[jmc1969]

BAGHDAD, Nov. 16 -- A top American commander in Iraq on Wednesday denounced calls by some U.S. senators and others for a deadline on withdrawal from Iraq, calling that "a recipe for disaster" for the 2 -year-old war.

"Setting a date would mean that the 221 soldiers I've lost this year, that their lives will have been lost in vain," said Maj. Gen. William Webster, whose 3rd Infantry Division is responsible for security in three-fourths of Iraq's capital.

Webster's criticism of a withdrawal deadline referred to a Democratic proposal that would have required U.S. leaders to fix a rough date for pulling out the more than 140,000 Americans in Iraq.

Senate Republicans, however, joined Democrats in stepping up pressure on the White House to wind down the increasingly unpopular war, approving a measure setting 2006 as a "period of significant transition creating conditions for the phased redeployment of United States' forces from Iraq."

Signaling the intended timing of a withdrawal likely would only cue Iraq's armed factions to lie low for a time, gathering their strength and laying plans for renewed conflict when the Americans leave, Webster said.

In recent weeks, several Iraqi insurgent groups -- not including Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq -- have suggested a truce in return for a U.S. deadline on withdrawal, among other conditions.

"Our troops are trying to get this accomplished," Webster told a small group of reporters. "They believe they're doing the right thing. The soldiers believe they're helping."

While the United States has an exit strategy from Iraq, Webster said, he believed leaders had yet to even privately fix a plan setting dates for phased withdrawals. "I think it's a recipe for disaster," he said of the demands for such deadlines. "Setting a date is a loser."

[Steven W.]

How dare this esteemed military veteran challenge the wisdom of General Hitlery Clinton

[sam_paine]

I don't think we want military people setting military strategy. <sarc)

[jmc1969]

Dick Durbin and Ted Kennedy should set military strategy.

[jmc1969]

They might as well let MoveOn set military strategy.

[sam_paine]

Dick Durbin for Army and Ted Kennedy for Naval strategy?

[DoughtyOne]

Senate Republicans, however, joined Democrats in stepping up pressure on the White House to wind down the increasingly unpopular war, approving a measure setting 2006 as a "period of significant transition creating conditions for the phased redeployment of United States' forces from Iraq."

Congrats Senator Frist and company. The dividends are piling in.

[HarleyLady27]

I do believe that if we don't raise up and act, the DemocRATS are going to ruin this Government and the country.

You can laugh and ask where my tin hat is, but I am very serious....have you all been listening to what the loony left is doing? Since when do we Impeach a President in the time of War???? Since when do we DEMAND that a President answer to the Senate??? Doesn't he answer to us, the people that elected him??? And don't these scattered brain idiot RATS answer to us??? If you say yes, then what do you think we should do???

Sitting by and letting someone else handle this is not the answer...and Lord save your Senators, there is not a dime's worth the difference between the Rep. and the Dem. except a few RATS think they Own this Country....Are you listening????

[AFPhys]

Vote table color coded highlighting similar votes: including Alabama (sorry for last one)

Two Essential differences: Levin's stated "first report 30days or sooner" versus 90 days
Levin's added the requirement that the administration submit: "(7) A campaign plan with estimated dates for the phased redeployment of the United States Armed Forces from Iraq as each condition is met, with the understanding that unexpected contingencies may arise."

Levin's #2519

Warner's #2518

Levin's #2519

Warner's #2518

Alabama:

Sessions

R

Nay

Nay

Shelby

R

Nay

Yea

Alaska:

Murkowski

R

Nay

Yea

Stevens

R

Nay

Yea

Arizona:

Kyl

R

Nay

Nay

McCain

R

Nay

Nay

Arkansas:

Lincoln

D

Yea

Yea

Pryor

D

Nay

Yea

California:

Boxer

D

Yea

Yea

Feinstein

D

Yea

Yea

Colorado:

Allard

R

Nay

Yea

Salazar

D

Yea

Yea

Connecticut:

Dodd

D

Yea

Yea

Lieberman

D

Nay

Yea

Delaware:

Biden

D

Yea

Yea

Carper

D

Yea

Yea

Florida:

Martinez

R

Nay

Yea

Nelson

D

Nay

Yea

Georgia:

Chambliss

R

Nay

Nay

Isakson

R

Nay

Nay

Hawaii:

Akaka

D

Yea

Yea

Inouye

D

Yea

Yea

Idaho:

Craig

R

Nay

Yea

Crapo

R

Nay

Yea

Illinois:

Durbin

D

Yea

Yea

Obama

D

Yea

Yea

Indiana:

Bayh

D

Yea

Yea

Lugar

R

Nay

Yea

Iowa:

Grassley

R

Nay

Yea

Harkin

D

Yea

Nay

Kansas:

Brownback

R

Nay

Yea

Roberts

R

Nay

Yea

Kentucky:

Bunning

R

Nay

Nay

McConnell

R

Nay

Yea

Louisiana:

Landrieu

D

Yea

Yea

Vitter

R

Nay

Nay

Maine:

Collins

R

Nay

Yea

Snowe

R

Nay

Yea

Maryland:

Mikulski

D

Yea

Yea

Sarbanes

D

Yea

Yea

Massachusetts:

Kennedy

D

Yea

Nay

Kerry

D

Yea

Nay

Michigan:

Levin

D

Yea

Yea

Stabenow

D

Yea

Yea

Minnesota:

Coleman

R

Nay

Yea

Dayton

D

Yea

Yea

Mississippi:

Cochran

R

Nay

Yea

Lott

R

Nay

Yea

Missouri:

Bond

R

Nay

Yea

Talent

R

Nay

Yea

Montana:

Baucus

D

Yea

Yea

Burns

R

Nay

Yea

Nebraska:

Hagel

R

Nay

Yea

Nelson

D

Nay

Yea

Nevada:

Ensign

R

Nay

Yea

Reid

D

Yea

Yea

N.Hampshire:

Gregg

R

Nay

Yea

Sununu

R

Nay

Yea

New Jersey:

Corzine

D

Absent

Lautenberg

D

Yea

Yea

New Mexico:

Bingaman

D

Yea

Yea

Domenici

R

Nay

Yea

New York:

Clinton

D

Yea

Yea

Schumer

D

Yea

Yea

N.Carolina:

Burr

R

Nay

Nay

Dole

R

Nay

Yea

North Dakota:

Conrad

D

Nay

Nay

Dorgan

D

Yea

Yea

Ohio:

DeWine

R

Nay

Yea

Voinovich

R

Nay

Yea

Oklahoma:

Coburn

R

Nay

Nay

Inhofe

R

Nay

Nay

Oregon:

Smith

R

Nay

Yea

Wyden

D

Yea

Yea

Pennsylvania:

Santorum

R

Nay

Yea

Specter

R

Nay

Yea

Rhode Island:

Chafee

R

Yea

Yea

Reed

D

Yea

Yea

S.Carolina:

DeMint

R

Nay

Nay

Graham

R

Nay

Nay

S. Dakota:

Johnson

D

Yea

Yea

Thune

R

Nay

Nay

Tennessee:

Alexander

R

Absent

Frist

R

Nay

Yea

Texas:

Cornyn

R

Nay

Yea

Hutchison

R

Nay

Yea

Utah:

Bennett

R

Nay

Yea

Hatch

R

Nay

Yea

Vermont:

Jeffords

I

Yea

Yea

Leahy

D

Yea

Nay

Virginia:

Allen

R

Nay

Yea

Warner

R

Nay

Yea

Washington:

Cantwell

D

Yea

Yea

Murray

D

Yea

Yea

W. Virginia:

Byrd

D

Yea

Nay

Rockefeller

D

Yea

Yea

Wisconsin:

Feingold

D

Yea

Yea

Kohl

D

Yea

Yea

Wyoming:

Enzi

R

Nay

Yea

Thomas

R

Nay

Yea

[NewMediaFan]

Did he check with Nancy Pelosi? She's got the whole thing figured out in one of her press releases.

[baystaterebel]

Thank the Lord for real men! Those neutered turds in the senate deserve to be flogged and hung for treason. Either they rectify this situation ASAP or the RNC/GOP can kiss my money, support, and time goodbye. I am through with them.

Out of all of this the only man true to his word associated with the GOP is President Bush. Love him or hate him, at least he isnt cutting and running on our troops.

[AFPhys]

That has been announced as the administration's plans all along, DO

This "sense of the Senate" is not driving that at all.

[jch10]

Yes, I hear you. I agree with your thoughts. I haven't a clue what to do. I contact my senators but it seems to do no good. Do we have to take to the streets???

[SaxxonWoods]

Go to these links to the chickens Frist and McConnell, don't be lazy, raise hell with these weak-kneed idiots.

Al Zarqawi is celebrating, and telling his minions that the end of American resistance is in sight.

http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorFrist.ContactForm

http://mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm

Two days ago, I thought only Democrats were capable is this kind of treachery, the undermining of our troops while they are in battle.

[jcparks]

Dick Durbin and Ted Kennedy should set military strategy.

At least the Swimmer has experience in the water.

[Soul Seeker]

Hear that you traitorous gutless unconscionable egomanical hacks in the U.S. Senate? DO YOU WANT TO DISGRACE ANOTHER GENERATION! DO YOU WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BLOOD OF CIVILIANS LIKE 'NAM WHEN YOU CUT AND RUN FROM VICTORY!

grow the hell up, get a spine, stop playing politics and unite to win this damn war!

[DoughtyOne]

How you and I read things doesn't really much matter.

The actions that were taken yesterday are being spun whether you and I buy into it or not. Many people will and we've seen nothing yet IMO.

This is going to get ugly fast.

Look at that comment I just quoted.

[AFPhys]

" ... approving a measure setting 2006 as a "period of significant transition creating conditions for the phased redeployment of United States' forces from Iraq."
---->

FALSE reporting... FRAUDcasters... they're all FRAUDcasters.

I hope this general doesn't get his information from the Old Mediots and FRAUDcasters.

[MikefromOhio]

The Iraq war is going SWIMMINGLY now that I am in charge.

Sincerely,

The Swimmer

[AFPhys]

Have you actually read the text? You probably have, but I bet a whole load of folks haven't... This is yet another example of the FRAUDcasters false reporting!

The actual texts of the two amendments voted on yesterday follow:

The 'R' amendment is pretty innocuous to me, and will simply allow the administration to make a wonderful quarterly report to the public. I really like this approach, as it will bypass the Old Media FRAUDcasters and put the "900 reports" Rummy referred to in a nice compiled format. The 'D' amendment was DANGEROUS.

Nota Bene the real BIGGIE strikeout of Levin's Paragraph (7) at the end. 

Frankly, the amendment seems pretty innocuous to me, and simply allows the administration to confirm what the administration has been stating all along. --- but it will now be in a more noticeable manner:





   SA 2518. Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. FRIST)  SA 2519. Mr. LEVIN (for himself, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. REID, Mr. DODD, Mr. KERRY, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. REED, Mr. KENNEDY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. OBAMA, and Mrs. BOXER) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1042, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; as follows:


    At the end of title XII, add the following:
   SEC. __. UNITED STATES POLICY ON IRAQ.
    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``United States Policy on Iraq Act''.
    (b) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that, in order to succeed in Iraq--
    (1) members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or have served in Iraq and their families deserve the utmost respect and the heartfelt gratitude of the American people for their unwavering devotion to duty, service to the Nation, and selfless sacrifice under the most difficult circumstances;
    (2) it is important to recognize that the Iraqi people have made enormous sacrifices and that the overwhelming majority of Iraqis want to live in peace and security;
    (3) calendar year 2006 should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq, thereby creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq;
    (4) United States military forces should not stay in Iraq indefinitely any longer than required and the people of Iraq should be so advised;
    (5) the Administration should tell the leaders of all groups and political parties in Iraq that they need to make the compromises necessary to achieve the broad-based and sustainable political settlement that is essential for defeating the insurgency in Iraq, within the schedule they set for themselves; and
    (6) the Administration needs to explain to Congress and the American people its strategy for the successful completion of the mission in Iraq.
    (c) Reports to Congress on United States Policy and Military Operations in Iraq.--Not later than 30 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every three months thereafter until all United States combat brigades have redeployed from Iraq, the President shall submit to Congress an unclassified report on United States policy and military operations in Iraq. Each report shall include the following: Each report shall include, to the extent practicable, the following unclassified information:
    (1) The current military mission and the diplomatic, political, economic, and military measures, if any, that are being or have been undertaken to successfully complete or support that mission, including:
    (A) Efforts to convince Iraq's main communities to make the compromises necessary for a broad-based and sustainable political settlement.
    (B) Engaging the international community and the region in the effort to stabilize Iraq and to forge a broad-based and sustainable political settlement.
    (C) Strengthening the capacity of Iraq's government ministries.
    (D) Accelerating the delivery of basic services.
    (E) Securing the delivery of pledged economic assistance from the international community and additional pledges of assistance.
    (F) Training Iraqi security forces and transferring security responsibilities to those forces and the government of Iraq.
    (2) Whether the Iraqis have made the compromises necessary to achieve the broad-based and sustainable political settlement that is essential for defeating the insurgency in Iraq.
    (3) Any specific conditions included in the April 2005 Multi-National Forces-Iraq campaign action plan (referred to in United States Government Accountability Office October 2005 report on Rebuilding Iraq: DOD Reports Should Link Economic, Governance, and Security Indicators to Conditions for Stabilizing Iraq), and any subsequent updates to that campaign plan, that must be met in order to provide for the transition of security responsibility to Iraqi security forces.
    (4) To the extent that these conditions are not covered under paragraph (3), the following should also be addressed:
    (A) The number of battalions of the Iraqi Armed Forces that must be able to operate independently or to take the lead in counterinsurgency operations and the defense of Iraq's territory.
    (B) The number of Iraqi special police units that must be able to operate independently or to take the lead in maintaining law and order and fighting the insurgency.
    (C) The number of regular police that must be trained and equipped to maintain law and order.
    (D) The ability of Iraq's Federal ministries and provincial and local governments to independently sustain, direct, and coordinate Iraq's security forces.
     (5) The criteria to be used to evaluate progress toward meeting such conditions.


     (6) A schedule for meeting such conditions, an assessment of the extent to which such conditions have been met, information regarding variables that could alter that schedule, and the reasons for any subsequent changes to that schedule.   

     (7) A campaign plan with estimated dates for the phased redeployment of the United States Armed Forces from Iraq as each condition is met, with the understanding that unexpected contingencies may arise.

The actual texts of the two amendments voted on yesterday follow:

The 'R' amendment is pretty innocuous to me, and will simply allow the administration to make a wonderful quarterly report to the public. I really like this approach, as it will bypass the Old Media FRAUDcasters and put the "900 reports" Rummy referred to in a nice compiled format. The 'D' amendment was DANGEROUS.

Nota Bene the real BIGGIE strikeout of Levin's Paragraph (7) at the end. 

Frankly, the amendment seems pretty innocuous to me, and simply allows the administration to confirm what the administration has been stating all along. --- but it will now be in a more noticeable manner:





   SA 2518. Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. FRIST)  SA 2519. Mr. LEVIN (for himself, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. REID, Mr. DODD, Mr. KERRY, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. REED, Mr. KENNEDY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. OBAMA, and Mrs. BOXER) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1042, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; as follows:


    At the end of title XII, add the following:
   SEC. __. UNITED STATES POLICY ON IRAQ.
    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``United States Policy on Iraq Act''.
    (b) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that, in order to succeed in Iraq--
    (1) members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or have served in Iraq and their families deserve the utmost respect and the heartfelt gratitude of the American people for their unwavering devotion to duty, service to the Nation, and selfless sacrifice under the most difficult circumstances;
    (2) it is important to recognize that the Iraqi people have made enormous sacrifices and that the overwhelming majority of Iraqis want to live in peace and security;
    (3) calendar year 2006 should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq, thereby creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq;
    (4) United States military forces should not stay in Iraq indefinitely any longer than required and the people of Iraq should be so advised;
    (5) the Administration should tell the leaders of all groups and political parties in Iraq that they need to make the compromises necessary to achieve the broad-based and sustainable political settlement that is essential for defeating the insurgency in Iraq, within the schedule they set for themselves; and
    (6) the Administration needs to explain to Congress and the American people its strategy for the successful completion of the mission in Iraq.
    (c) Reports to Congress on United States Policy and Military Operations in Iraq.--Not later than 30 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every three months thereafter until all United States combat brigades have redeployed from Iraq, the President shall submit to Congress an unclassified report on United States policy and military operations in Iraq. Each report shall include the following: Each report shall include, to the extent practicable, the following unclassified information:
    (1) The current military mission and the diplomatic, political, economic, and military measures, if any, that are being or have been undertaken to successfully complete or support that mission, including:
    (A) Efforts to convince Iraq's main communities to make the compromises necessary for a broad-based and sustainable political settlement.
    (B) Engaging the international community and the region in the effort to stabilize Iraq and to forge a broad-based and sustainable political settlement.
    (C) Strengthening the capacity of Iraq's government ministries.
    (D) Accelerating the delivery of basic services.
    (E) Securing the delivery of pledged economic assistance from the international community and additional pledges of assistance.
    (F) Training Iraqi security forces and transferring security responsibilities to those forces and the government of Iraq.
    (2) Whether the Iraqis have made the compromises necessary to achieve the broad-based and sustainable political settlement that is essential for defeating the insurgency in Iraq.
    (3) Any specific conditions included in the April 2005 Multi-National Forces-Iraq campaign action plan (referred to in United States Government Accountability Office October 2005 report on Rebuilding Iraq: DOD Reports Should Link Economic, Governance, and Security Indicators to Conditions for Stabilizing Iraq), and any subsequent updates to that campaign plan, that must be met in order to provide for the transition of security responsibility to Iraqi security forces.
    (4) To the extent that these conditions are not covered under paragraph (3), the following should also be addressed:
    (A) The number of battalions of the Iraqi Armed Forces that must be able to operate independently or to take the lead in counterinsurgency operations and the defense of Iraq's territory.
    (B) The number of Iraqi special police units that must be able to operate independently or to take the lead in maintaining law and order and fighting the insurgency.
    (C) The number of regular police that must be trained and equipped to maintain law and order.
    (D) The ability of Iraq's Federal ministries and provincial and local governments to independently sustain, direct, and coordinate Iraq's security forces.
     (5) The criteria to be used to evaluate progress toward meeting such conditions.


     (6) A schedule for meeting such conditions, an assessment of the extent to which such conditions have been met, information regarding variables that could alter that schedule, and the reasons for any subsequent changes to that schedule.   

     (7) A campaign plan with estimated dates for the phased redeployment of the United States Armed Forces from Iraq as each condition is met, with the understanding that unexpected contingencies may arise.