Posted on 11/14/2007 7:15:48 PM PST by SmithL
House Democrats pushed through a $50 billion bill for the Iraq war Wednesday night that would require President Bush to start bringing troops home in coming weeks with a goal of ending combat by December 2008.
The legislation, passed 218-203, was largely a symbolic jab at Bush, who already has begun reducing force levels but opposes a congressionally mandated timetable on the war. And while the measure was unlikely to pass in the Senate — let alone overcome a presidential veto — Democrats said they wanted voters to know they weren't giving up.
"The fact is, we can no longer sustain the military deployment in Iraq," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "Staying there in the manner that we are there is no longer an option."
The White House pledged to veto the bill, and Republicans said they would back the president.
"In addition to infringing upon the president's constitutional authority as commander in chief, the bill would mandate a precipitous withdrawal of troops that could increase the probability that American troops would have to one day return to Iraq to confront an even more dangerous enemy," an administration statement said.
The bill represents about a quarter of the $196 billion Bush requested for combat operations in the 2008 budget year, which began Oct 1.
It would compel an unspecified number of troops to leave Iraq within 30 days, a requirement Bush is already on track to meet as he begins in coming weeks to reverse the 30,000 troop buildup he ordered earlier this year. It also sets a goal of ending combat by Dec. 15, 2008, and states that money included in the bill should be used to redeploy troops and "not to extend or prolong the war."
The measure also would set government-wide standards on interrogation,...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The fact that we’re winning and former insurgents working with us, turning over caches and IDs, the fact that it’s been said already troops are coming home for Christmas...
I guess news of all the chatter re: holiday/mall/etc. threats don’t phase them. In fact, they’re probably still looking for a way to give out licenses (the hijackers had licenses too, some were visa overstays); The state department giving out express visas to those in terror countries (you know, the ones we don’t deal with), and not following up on the individuals helps as well. /s
God help them if there’s an attack.
I can’t imagine what our Vietnam vets went through with no internet and no one to stand up for them. Time for Gathering of Eagles to get together to go to DC again ASAP.
Meanwhile, burn the phones, email, fax, letters to the editor and to representatives.
Michelle has the votes and details:
http://michellemalkin.com/
I bet they’ll say ‘It was the bonus’:
The recruiting numbers for October.
Active Duty Recruiting Numbers:
Army: 101% of goal.
Navy: 100% of goal.
Marine Corps: 102% of goal.
Air Force: 100% of goal.
Reserve Component:
Army National Guard: 123% of goal
Army Reserve: 104% of goal
Navy Reserve: 112% of goal
Marine Corps Reserve: 100% of goal
Air National Guard: 134% of goal
Air Force Reserve: 100% of goal
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11480
Just at FR (and this is just two days, what Sand Rat, one person, posted):
Former Insurgent Leads Coalition, Iraqi Forces to Huge Weapons Cache
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925770/posts
Troops Detain Eight Suspects, Discover Weapons in Iraq
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925715/posts
Leaders Discuss Bamyan Development, Visit Historical Ruins
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925714/posts
With Violence Down, ‘Helicopter Ambassadors’ Take Their Turn
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925713/posts
Iraqi Troops to Take the Lead in Diyala Security Operations
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925635/posts
Progress in Northern, Western Baghdad ‘Remarkable,’ Commander Says
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925296/posts
Seven extremists captured in night raid (Jisr Diyala)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925299/posts
1-15th Inf. Regt. detains 10, kills one extremist (Al Bawi)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925301/posts
Spartans Look to Lend Hand to National Museum of Iraq (2nd Bde “Spartans,” 1st Cav)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925294/posts
Coalition Troops Kill Terrorist, Detain 14 in Iraq
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925286/posts
Coalition, Afghan Forces Kill Enemy Fighters
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925280/posts
All Military Components Meet, Exceed Recruiting Goals
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925274/posts
Iraqi Special Operations Forces detain extremist leaders in Baghdad
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925270/posts
Concerned Local Citizen Groups Aid Progress in Iraq
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925297/posts
Awesome Pro-Troop News - Media Gives Uplifting Coverage of Pro-Troop Efforts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925769/posts
Add to this intel on al-Masri, he should be room temperature soon.
In case you missed the thread:
ACTION ALERT: Stop Playing Politics — Fund the Troops!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925243/posts
Because I can’t leave hell enough alone (I meant that):
Still More Good Security News From Iraq
Iraqi-American Haider Ajina sends the following reports from the Iraqi news:
From Iraq’s Azzaman news paper of Nov. 12:
185 schools constructed
The ministry of education has built 185 schools and repaired 332 others as part of its reconstruction plan for 2007.
From Iraq’s Azzaman news paper of Nov. 12:
Al-Qaeda defeated in main Baghdad neighborhood
Forces loyal to government have purged the restive and violent Baghdad’s Adhamiya quarter of Qaeda fighters, according to Ahmad al-Samarrai.
Samarrai said Qaeda ‘terrorists’ were defeated and forced out of the neighborhood following two days of ferocious fighting.
Samarrai is head of the government-sponsored Sunni endowments in Baghdad.
Many Sunnis have turned against the so-called ‘Qaeda in Mesopotamia’ and have formed alliances backed by U.S. troops to flush Qaeda members from their areas. These newly formed tribal militias are locally known as ‘Sahawa’ or Awakening. “After two days of fighting the Awakening Forces of Adhamiya have spread their full control over Adhamiya’s streets and districts,” said Samarrai.
The following is an article from ‘Voices of Iraq’ an independent news agency on Nov. 14:
Iraqi president says risks of civil war decreased
Baghdad, Nov 14, (VOI)- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said that odds of civil war in Iraq decreased after the improvement of security condition in the country.
In statements to Egyptian daily al-Ahram, the president said that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak agreed to set up a higher political committee to boost Iraqi-Egyptian strategic relations.
“We were promised for the return of the Egyptian ambassador to Iraq by the end of the year,” Talabani also said, noting that Iraqi will also send an ambassador to Egypt.
“I expect a bigger Arab support to Iraq and i will head for Saudi Arabia to discuss means of bolstering bilateral ties,” he added.
“Economic and cultural situations improved in the country, but there is still a need for more efforts within the national reconciliation,” he added.
The following is from Iraq’s ‘Alsabah’ Newspaper of November 13:
17Billion for investment in provinces next year
Govt. decided increasing investment projects’ allocations at next year in all provinces at 60% according population density of each province to provide many jobs for many unemployed
This increase that its amount reaches to $17Billion compared with $11Billion in recent year with what revealed by Vice President Dr. Adel Abdulmahdi in a conference of reconstruction in Nasiryia province about a plan to reconstruct all destroyed infrastructure in provinces that would begin in 2008.
The following is a Haider Ajina translation of an article from Buratha news of November 14 2007:
Sunni Endowments banishes Um Al-Qura terrorist Takfiri mission closes the Mosque and radio station
The Sunni Endowments in Iraq under the leadership of Sheik Abdul Ghafoor Alsameraai closed the Takfiri terrorist bomb making Mosque called Um Al-Qura in Baghdad. The Endowment also evicted the people in the Mosque. This courageous decision and action has angered the Takfiri terrorist group headed by Hareth Aldhari. Aldhari who is a fugitive from justice, released a press memo in which he condemns the closure of the Mosque and expresses his anger at the eviction of the Mosque and the confiscation of it contents along with the removal of the large door plaque identifying the Mosque as Um Alqura mosque.
Haider Ajina comments:
It is becoming evident to the Iraqis that the rule of law and elected government (at the national and provincial level) are here to stay. It is also evident to the Iraqis that we are sticking by them and training their security forces to take over soon. Iraqis also realize that we are training their security forces to protect, serve and defend their citizens while observing the rule of law. This part of the training is the hardest and obviously most effective. Iraqi citizens will not support their security forces unless they trust them.
The grassroots support for the Iraqi security forces has increased and solidified to a tremendous extent over the last five months and especially in the last two. This is due to our training and the Iraqis willingly internalizing this training and implementing it.
The increased security and gradual weakening of the Takfiri Al-Qaida and the Baathist and Shiite Militias are allowing the voices condemning religious intolerance to become louder and more active. Iraqi Sunni Muslims are standing up, containing and condemning Takfiries and those who distort Islam to meet their own evil agenda. Voices of Muslims condemning intolerance, and abuse is getting louder and louder. Especially since it is Muslims who suffer the most due to religious intolerance and oppression by other Muslims.
Regards,
Haider Ajina
UPDATE: Iraq the Model has more good news from Baghdad- 20 car bombs stopped by US-Iraqi forces.
Hat Tip BG
http://iraqthemodel.blogspot.com/
UPDATE 2: All Things Conservative reports on two more defeats for Al-Qaeda.
http://allthingsconservative.typepad.com/all_things_conservative/2007/11/iraq-more-defea.html
And, another chart on Iraq fatalities is HERE.
http://togetrichisglorious.blogspot.com/2007/11/iraq-fatalities.html
All from the wonderful Gateway Pundit.
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2007/11/still-more-good-security-news-from-iraq.html
Check out the whole blog:
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/
They won’t give up until our troops give up.
It’s to keep the MoveOn.org anti-war nuts off their backs....
Dingy Harry just called in ... apparently reading those links gave him a splitting headache LOL.
All about elections... never about the right thing to do... or thinking about how the remaining troops will fare while troops are being incrementally pulled from Iraq until December 2008.
I have come to disagree with the purpose of this war BUT I have never wavered and never will waver in my support for the sovereignty of the USA and our military --> the most selfless individuals on the planet.
Regarding the War in Iraq: I was disappointed to learn that 3 days after G.W. Bush said, "Mission Accomplished" (a proud moment) British Oil, Sunoco, and Sun Oil were drilling in southern Iraq.
BUT I believe that G.W. Bush was given misinformation about the WMD's and I believe that he did the best he could with the information at hand. Same goes for the Congress and the Senate who had the SAME information and voted to go to war with Iraq.
The Democrats are starting to remind me more and more of those Japanese soldiers holed up in caves long after WWII ended.
Please go back and reread my post- HIS PHILOSOPHY- not MY philosophy- GEESH learn to read and get a grip.
You have my sincere apologies.
That quote is from Ron Paul in a debate if i remember correctly, anyway, it is a philosophy that I am ascribing to RP, NOT MY PHILOSOPHY! Read the whole post. I have always thought RP is a loon, and you can check all of my posts. I don't do Coede Pink talking points.
Accepted, you really don’t understand how such accusations make ME feel.
“Asshat libs will surely attempt to take credit for the withdrawal. claiming they forced it on him.”
I suspect you’re right and Reid’s embarrassment was nothing new. They have senators on the campaign trail for president now who need cover to show they “supported the war when they didn’t support the war”. It is a sop to the extreme left but also an attempt to take credit for the surge and progress made in the past few months. They want it both ways and too many are willing to let them have it, unfortunately.
You’re welcome, mon ami.
However, a position that disagrees with the DU opinion is pulled and poster is dropped from their membership.
Foolish DU membership doesn't even realize that they are participating in a dictatorship web site... which, in my opinion, prepares them well for Hillary-Land should the jerk be elected.
HEAR HEAR~!DUNCAN LEADS THE WAY....
AUU RAH
Democrats = Communists.
The democrats are emotionally invested in defeat. Reality means nothing to them. They will do everything they can think of doing to turn victory into defeat. They are delusional. Someone once asked me how Satan could have been so stupid as to rebel against God when Satan should have known that he would lose. Satan was so full of hate and pride that it blinded him. I see the same blind hatred in the democratic party. You cannot reason with them. Consequences mean nothing. They are fueled by hate.
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