Posted on 10/05/2007 5:58:49 PM PDT by neverdem
A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation late Thursday that would require the Bush administration to send a report on its Iraq redeployment plans to Congress and continuously update the information.
The bill is the companion to a measure passed earlier this week in the House with broad bipartisan support. That measure, championed by Reps. John Tanner (D-Tenn.), Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) and Phil English (R-Pa.), sailed through the House with a vote of 377-46.
The Senate bill is sponsored by Sens. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), George Voinovich (R-Ohio), Jim Webb (D-Va.) and Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.).
Salazar called the measure an “important first step” that would help “find a new way forward in Iraq.”
The bill calls on the Department of Defense to deliver a report to Congress on the status of redeployment plans 60 days after the legislation’s enactment and every 90 days after that.
“Conducting oversight of the government, the administration and the war is not only our responsibility — it is our duty,” Voinovich said. “This bill allows us to fulfill that duty.”
Clinton’s inclusion in the list of sponsors will help the measure gain attention. As the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, the media spotlight is always on her, especially on an issue such as the war in Iraq.
“The roots of the many problems facing our men and women serving in Iraq were planted by the failure of this administration to develop sound, realistic plans. We cannot afford to repeat the same mistake when our forces redeploy,” Clinton said. “Redeploying out of Iraq will be difficult and requires careful planning. The administration must provide a redeployment strategy that will keep our brave men and women safe as they leave Iraq.”
It would be a feather in Clinton’s cap to be part of a successful bipartisan effort on Iraq because it would show her working across party lines to tackle a pressing issue.
The measure gives Republicans who are unhappy with Bush’s Iraq policy a chance to voice their concerns without supporting the mandatory troop withdrawal deadlines that many Democrats favor.
“I have long maintained that our country needs a new direction in Iraq that sets the stage for a significant but responsible drawdown of our combat troops and that encourages a lasting political solution to the sectarian violence engulfing Baghdad,” Collins said.
Added Dole: “This bipartisan measure is a positive step forward. The American people and the Iraqi government need to know that our commitment in Iraq is not open-ended. It is my hope that by next spring, units not withdrawn from Iraq could be reassigned to border security, training and support roles.”
As always, they use the code-words "re-deployment" because of the obvious "turn tail and run" tactic literally will make people sick. (Those with common sense, not the nut-case types).
Elizabeth Dole...................
Elizabeth Dole sure knows how to get Republican Senators elected /s
Don't even get me started on that graft grubbing b!tch
It is “unconstitutional” for the Congress to direct how a war is fought. That is the Executive Branch’s job. Dubya needs to tell these buffoons to F*** Off! The ‘RAT Congress is totally out of control and needs to be replaced. No wonder they have only an 11% approval rating.
NONE! 'Nuff said!
Dear Senator Dole:
I am somewhat relieved to have read of your perfidy in supporting a measure that waste the time of the Executive in a time of war to come before the Congress with plans for redeployment every 90 days. I am sure that our enemy is quite relieved also to have a friend like you in the Congress.
My relief stems from the fact that I was in the process of contributing to your re-election when I ran across this misguided action of yours. (It should be easy for you to know that you have “gone off of the deep end” if you are on the same side as Hillary, Voinovich and the like.) Needless to say you should not expect financial support from me if you continue with this wrong headed approach. There is still time to make amends. I assure you that there are many like me, nationally and in North Carolina that will see this as traitorous to the War Effort. What earthly good is it to ask the CIC to spell out his war plans except to grant advantage to the enemy? I can not believe that this is your intention.
Looking forward to YOUR remedial action,
I remain, committed to victory in the GWOT and Iraq,
(Francesco)
But they can be thanked for their thoughtful suggestion which has already been placed into action.
In the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing, many local people in the surrounding community reached out to help the survivors, and the families of those who died. people held fund raisers, and school children and churches collected money.
Partway through the process, the American Red Cross ran a media add on radio and in the papers telling people that if they wanted to get aid to the families please send their donations to an address they set up.
Several months later it came out that none of the families had yet received any of the moneys and goods that had been collected in their behalf. As it turned out, the Red Cross had put the money into their general operating fund. The Red Cross was never held accountable for this fraud and never made the loss good either. The Chairman of the Red Cross who committed this perfidy was Elisabeth Dole.
Holding her accountable for the things she does in the public sphere is very like holding Hillary Clinton accountable. they don't think the concept applies to them. Same person just one has a (D) after her name, and the other has an (R). There is little difference beyond that.
Elizabeth Dole? All this is will do is set another date and stage for the Dims to oppose and condemn President Bush no matter what the report says. It will be a circus each time a report is submitted. Whoever gets to give the report will be killed by the assholes in the highchairs. What’s with Dole?
She was for the so called assault weapon ban too. What's with Lamar as well? Where does the GOP find all these mindless RINOs? I can't believe all of these useless idiots.
If you don’t mind I will use your post as a template for a note to my ‘beloved’ senator Alexander.
I would give my life to take his if we did not have a democrat goober-nor.
Suggestion to already overburdened government employees charged with filling out useless forms:
~~~OFFICIAL REQUIRED REDEPLOYMENT FORM~~~
(check only one)
*Yes, there will be no redeployment of troops.
* No, there will not be any redeployment of troops.
This document fulfills and concludes the requirements imposed by mindless politicos.
Victor Davis Hanson: The old Schell game
Mukasey should declare where he stands on Second Amendment
From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation late Thursday that would require the Bush administration to send a report on its Iraq redeployment plans to Congress and continuously update the information."I'll be redeploying more troops, oh, and (bleep!) you." [reply from the White House]
Thanks neverdem.
Great letter!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.