Dems question latest anti-war strategy

San Luis Obispo Tribune ^ | Nov. 09, 2007 | ANNE FLAHERTY

[neverdem]

Associated Press

Rank-and-file Democrats expressed dismay on Friday over their party's latest anti-war strategy, with some members reluctant to vote to bring troops home around Veterans Day. The House was on track to consider legislation next week that would give President Bush $50 billion for operations Iraq and Afghanistan but insist that he begin withdrawing troops.

The measure identifies a goal of ending combat by December 2008, leaving only enough soldiers and Marines behind to fight terrorists, train Iraqi security forces and protect U.S. assets.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pushed off plans for a Friday vote after caucus members told her late Thursday they weren't sure they would support it. Liberal Democrats said the proposal was too soft, while conservative members told Pelosi they thought it went too far.

But Pelosi told reporters on Friday that she was confident the Iraq measure would pass.

"I think the message in the next week ought to be that a heck of a lot of people have been harmed (in combat) and we ought to take care of them," said Rep. Gene Taylor, a conservative Mississippi Democrat who says his constituents mostly support the war.

Rep. John Murtha, chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said the vote was delayed because leadership was not satisfied it would pass. The proposal - which also includes a provision that would effectively ban waterboarding and other aggressive interrogation techniques and restrict troop deployments - might be tweaked to address member concerns, he added.

But one guarantee, Murtha said, is that Bush will have to accept some timetable on troop withdrawals if he wants the money.

"I don't think you'll see the House pass anything without restrictions," said Murtha, D-Pa.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Thursday that Bush would again veto any legislation that sets an "artificial timeline" for troop withdrawals.

"We should be supporting our troops as they are succeeding, not finding ways to undercut their mission," he said.

Pelosi, D-Calif., told members in a private caucus meeting on Thursday that if Bush rejected the measure, she did not intend on sending him another war spending bill for the rest of the year.

"It's a war without end," Pelosi later told reporters. "There is no light at the end of the tunnel. We must reverse it."

The bill is similar to one Bush rejected in May. Unable to muster the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto, Democrats stripped the timetable from the bill and approved a $95 billion emergency spending bill, mostly for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The measure established political goals for the Iraqi government and put conditions on reconstruction aid, but Bush ultimately retained authority over the money, which ran out this fall.

Several anti-war liberals said Thursday they were willing to swing behind the measure, as long as it came with strings attached.

"The American people want out," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. "And we have to make sure we take giant steps in that direction."

If approved by the House, the Senate also might take up the measure next week.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he did not want to approve a spending measure for Iraq unless it forced a change in Bush's policies. When asked whether that was possible, considering the thin majority Democrats hold in the Senate, Reid said it "is up to the White House and up to the Republicans."

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Democrats face "unfortunate timing" because of the military progress being made in Iraq.

"While our troops are quelling violence and defeating terrorists in Baghdad and throughout Iraq, Democrats in Washington are trying to choke off funds for our troops in the field," he said.

[tcrlaf]

This entire scenario was started to cover the Democrats over thier enraged moonbat base being denied thier impeachment by these very same Democrats...

Pelosi KNOWS it isn’t going to pass, but she’s scared of the whacko’s now...

[Candor7]

At which point the President vetos it like he did in May and Democrats have no where near enough votes in either house to override and they go right back to square one>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I certainly hope you are right, BUT, you will notice that the president had a veto over-ridden last week. The coalition to do soi has been formed on other issues, and if the viggy is comprehensive enough, it could happen. What a disaster that would be.