Posted on 07/13/2007 11:48:42 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Two prominent Senate Republicans have drafted legislation that would require President Bush by the end of the year to dramatically narrows the mission of U.S. troops.
The legislation, which represents a sharp challenge to Bush, was put forward by Sens. John Warner and Richard Lugar, the ranking members of the Armed Services and Foreign Relations. It came as the Pentagon acknowledged that a decreasing number of Iraqi army battalions are able to operate independently of U.S. troops.
"Given continuing high levels of violence in Iraq and few manifestations of political compromise among Iraq's factions, the optimal outcome in Iraq of a unified, pluralist, democratic government that is able to police itself, protect its borders, and achieve economic development is not likely to be achieved in the near future," the Warner-Lugar proposal said.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Friday appeared resigned to the fact that the Iraqi parliament is going to take August off, even though it has just eight weeks to show progress on military, political and economic benchmarks prescribed by the United States.
"My understanding is at this juncture they're going to take August off, but, you know, they may change their minds," White House press secretary Tony Snow said.
"You know, it's 130 degrees in Baghdad in August," he said, sympathetically.
Snow was reminded that U.S. troops will be continuing to fight throughout August in the heat.
"You know, that's a good point," Snow said. "And it's 130 degrees for the Iraqi military."
The White House and other top officials previously had worked to persuade the parliament to remain at work, saying it would send a bad signal if the Iraqi lawmakers went on vacation while U.S. troops were fighting and dying.
Snow said that a scheduled Sept. 15 progress report on by Gen. David Petraeus was important, yet said he also said that was not a deadline. He said progress can be made even if the parliament is not in session.
"You're assuming that nothing is going on," Snow said.
"Let's also see what happens because quite often when parliaments do not meet, they are also continuing meetings on the side. And there will be progress, I'm sure on a number of fronts," the spokesman said.
The Iraqi parliament's vacation plans have been repeatedly criticized by U.S. lawmakers. But the U.S. Congress will be on vacation from Aug. 3 to Sept. 4, if it sticks to current plans.
The Congress itself has been criticized for how little it works.
On Thursday, the White House gave Congress a progress report that showed the Iraqi government was making unsatisfactory progress on many political and military milestones. At a news conference, President Bush defended the buildup of U.S. troops as well as his decisions on troop numbers earlier in the conflict.
Bush said that when he asked Gen. Tommy Franks, the Central Command chief during the initial invasion in March 2003, whether he had enough troops, he told him he did. Bush said he recalled sitting in a meeting downstairs at the White House asking each commander responsible for different aspects of the operations that led to toppling Saddam Hussein.
"I said to each one of them `Do you have what it takes?' Are you satisfied with the strategy?' And the answer was `Yes,' " Bush said.
Asked whether Bush was trying to blame Franks for the bad course of the war, Snow rose to defend Franks and said historians would have to judge the correctness of U.S. strategic military decisions.
"I think Gen. Franks did a superb job," Snow said.
When are their terms up?
These two must be beaten in their next GOP primaries — by excellent, real Republican candidates with well managed, well financed campaigns, with strong, very active volunteer support.
1. Blame defeat on Bush.
2. Bring up the Iraq Study Group proposals; blame Bush for not following them.
3. Recommend setting up a new commission to study what went wrong and formulate proposals for the future.
4. Appear "thoughtful" and " measured." Try to look intelligent.
Especially a committee made up of morons. Do get most of their information on what the military is doing in Iraq from CNN?
Believe me, some of us would like to kick his behind to the curb but I don't think he comes up for reelection again until 2010 or something like that. Doubt that he will run again, so he isn't worried anyway.
When I think of all the rallies I have attended and miles of walking to campaign for Lugar The Turncoat it really makes me upset.
Doesn't make much sense does it?
They must pattern their work habits after our House and Senate. They are on vacation at least half the time.
Good for you. What a backstabber Lugar is, not just to the President but to the military people like us.
Dick Loser assumes he’ll be relected no matter what. The Democrats don’t even put candidates up to oppose him. No wonder why the guy became a RINO!
Loser comes up in 2012, if he lives that long.
You probably do not even have the votes to pass the US Senate with this slop. EVEN if you do, you certainly do not have the votes in EITHER House to over ride a Presidential Veto.
So how about you quit being useless grandstanding Media whores and actually get about the people’s business?
Gas prices have been higher longer, and the economy performing worse, this year then last year. So instead of striking stupid postures on Iraq, how about you get some REAL Energy policy in place? Open up our coastal waters to drilling? Stream line the Refinery Permit process?
How about you get about making the tax cuts permanent?
There are many REAL issues that need your prompt attention Senator. What we DO not need is you two acting as PR agents for Bin Laden and the Terrorists with this stupid posturing on Iraq.
I agree with you, but he ran in 2006 and has five more years. the Indiana GOP was making lots of excuses for him, at least he votes right some of the time. BARF. Indiana GOP won’t put up another candidate to oppose him.
I shall do what I can. Most GOP Hoosiers already know this.
I have a friend who ran against a tax and spend GOP candidate in the primaries and knocked him out. Got a 30 year old car and drove around his district saying the guy was out of touch with Hoosiers. He won the general election but the state GOP would not help him because he knocked out the old veteran. It was a David and Goliath campaign, my guy being David. The Dems attacked him for a letter to the editor he wrote years ago, when he was in his 20s.
We need to do something not just about Lugar but about our state GOP.
I am actively talking to people. I make sure they know Lugar voted for amnesty and is backing cut and run. His political career should be over. I am doing my part making sure people realize he is a bum.
Anyone know of someone who wants to run against him? I know several people, including myself ready to work for their campaign.
And when you send him a note, address it to General Warner not Senator Warner and mock him for his ridiculous statements. These men have gone senile, and no longer belong representing the United States in the US Senate. That august body has become a joke with people like LUgar, Warner, Dominici, Voinivich, Snowe, Gordon Smith, Collins, Hagel, etc.
They are the laughing stock of a good portion of the nation, and for good reason.
I loved it yesterday when Fred (Beltway Boys) said they were senior pubbies (by age), not leading ones.
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