GOP Sen. Snowe sponsoring Iraq withdrawal bill

The LA Times ^ | April 20, 2007 | Noam N. Levey and James Gerstenzang

[Tulsa Ramjet]

WASHINGTON — In another sign of Republican unease with the president's Iraq policies, a third GOP senator expressed support Thursday for pulling U.S. forces out of Iraq under certain conditions.

Sen. Olympia J. Snowe announced she would sponsor a bill to require American commanders to plan a withdrawal within 120 days of the bill's enactment, unless the Iraqi government meets a series of benchmarks.

"The Iraq government needs to understand that our commitment is not infinite," said Snowe, a moderate from Maine who frequently departs from the party line.

President Bush has insisted that Congress not impose any limits on his conduct of the four-year-old war. But Snowe has taken issue with that view.

"It is our business as well," she said Thursday.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

"I can't begin to imagine how our troops in the field, who are risking their lives every day, are going to react when they get back to base and hear that the Democrat leader of the United States Senate has declared the war is lost," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

[redgolum]

Figured this would start soon.

[goodnesswins]

Snowe....one of the enemies from within.

[Williams]

The Rinos doomed the republican majority. Now let’s all gang up on our ally instead of the terrorists blowing up our ally’s innocent men, women and children.

[Alter Kaker]

In other news, Snowe is up for reelection in 2008, against a strong Dem challenger in a blue state. It’s amazing to watch principle fall by the wayside (see Coleman, Norm and Smith, Gordon) as unprincipled RINOs put self-interest over national interest.

[AliVeritas]

Time to contact the VFW, DAV and organizations in her state. She has to go.

[NeoCaveman]

Actually Snowe is not up, it's Collins. Other than that, you are right on. I wouldn't put it passed Snowe to do this for Collins.

They've all seen the polling numbers and they all believe if we don't retreat in defeat the GOP loses at least 4 more senate seats - MN, OR, ME, NH.

[Kuksool]

Snowe won easily in 2006. It is her “party sister”, Susan Collins who is up for re-election.

[Williams]

It figures she'd want us out of Iraq after a report it may have bigger oil reserves than Iran, This stupid woman and her New England partner in crime (Collins) blocked us from having our own oil from ANWR despite no environmental danger.

I think the GOP will be left with a bunch of liberal senators and a conservative base desperately seeking a new party.

[Izzy Dunne]

Let her know what you think.

[EagleUSA]

The worst enemy this country has is INTERNAL — the fifth column that is trying to bring down our present form of government, especially Bush. Reid and all of his seditious traitor friends should be sent one way to Venezuela where they belong. They do not deserve the protection or benefits of American citizenship...why should our soldiers die for these pieces of trash?????

[pissant]

With allowing fetid liberals like Snowe and Rudy to run as republicans, we are slitting our own wrists.

[SE Mom]

Unbelievable.

Well no..not really..but still..

[Badeye]

Wasn’t Snow once an administrative assistant to Cyrus Vance a couple of decades ago?

[Alter Kaker]

Whoops! You’re both right. Need another cup of coffee. Not that it’s all that easy to distinguish women RINO Senators from the state of Maine.

[NeoCaveman]

Not that it’s all that easy to distinguish women RINO Senators from the state of Maine.

I think of Collins as Snowe's slow little sister....

[Owen]

People, this is all going to work out fine. There will be no date certain for withdrawl. There will be benchmarks for the Iraqis to achieve in order to retain support. Those benchmarks will be fought over, but only mildly, because the KEY battle is there will be no Date Deadline.

Bush is going to win that battle and that battle will eventually determine victory in Iraq. The Dems and Blue state Republicans must have a bone to throw their voters, and benchmarks are already evolving to be it. They will be made fuzzy and vague and Bush will win. The Dem leadership already knows it and is maneuvering to prevent their own base from going crazy.

[Izzy Dunne]

My letter:

Madam Senator,

  I am extremely distressed to learn of your support
for the timetable for U.S. surrender to the forces of
Al Qaeda.  And that is exactly what it is: surrender.

  Do you think that Osama Bin Laden didn't clap his
hands when he heard this news?

  Do you think the terrorists will just quit, now that
the big, bad, USA is gone?

  Do you think that all (ALL) the terrorists won't just
wait it out until the troops leave, and then start
massive attacks?

  Do you think that anyone in the world will look up
to the U.S. ever again, as a force for freedom, and not
just a paper tiger?

  Does that matter to you?

  I expected such from the Harry Reid types.   Political
power was always more important than security.

  I expected more from you.

[TYVets]

RINO