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.
bin Lugar, bin Warner, turn coats.
You can not run a war by committee.
Let the generals/admirals run it and stay out of their hair by not "Monday morning quarterbacking" their every move.
Too many cooks......
We SHOULD withdraw from Iraq — via Tehran.
I’d like to post my thoughts, but I’d get banned.
Warner and Lugar rushing to support Democrats and to the aid of murderous insugents. Tell, me what is the PLAN once we steal defeat from victory?
Who will repair the damage to the prestige of the US as anyone’s ally?
Which Democrat business owner will get the contract to supply the body bags for the millions who will be victims of a Cambodian-like slaughter?
Which DNC contributor will provide nuclear decon for Israel after Iran seizes Iraq and ultimately launches nukes into Jerusalem?
Everyone wants to surrender and pull out, nobody wants to talk about what the plan is once we tuck our tail and run! Bush has been roundly critisized for not having a post-war plan for Iraq, and these same critics have NO plan after our SURRENDER.
There is still a leadership vacuum in the ME.
Running away will not help this, and nearly all local players agree they need us there to keep the lid on for as long a possible.
Treason was just added to Lugar and Warner’s resume.
Memo to Hoosiers: Lugar has got to GO. Kick the bum out!
And Warner divorced Elizabeth Taylor at the hight of her beauty and fame. What a dork. Luagr reminds me of a looggee
.
Lugar and Warner should "nut up" and go for it. The President is C in C.
I second that. I live here and am disgusted with Lugar. I’ve already called his office and told them what I thought of his unconstitutional legislation. I informed the gentleman who answered (who was very nice) that my husband is on his 2nd tour in Afghanistan and we know people who have been in Iraq and things are better than what the media says. I also informed him this would send a horrendous message to the terrorists that we don’t have the stomach to fight. Lugar just lost 3 votes in my home and 2 more from my parents. That we will nevr, ever vote for him again and I will support anyone who runs against him.
Lugar’s definitely not getting my vote, ever.
I will be volunteering time to whomever wants to challenge Lugar in the primaries.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Bill Clinton’s ‘Black Hawk Down’ Republicans.
Well, it is up to constituents to make it clear tht this is not a good strategy for the war or for reelection, either.
We need someone strong to run against him. I’d love to see Mike Pence run. He would be terrific. I also told Lugar that he’s cutting and running and the military doesn’t do that.
That is the only language these politicians understand! You want to be afraid of a bad NYTimes editorial? You want the Democrats to invite you on to all the Sunday morning talk shows? Fine. Do so as a RETIRED member of the Senate.
Really, I am appalled at the lack of courage of these guys. One question I keep asking myself is, where would we be if Republicans - yes, Republicans - didn’t fall into the DNC/MSM trap and start “distancing themselves from the President”. The MSM started this line before the 2006 election and lo and behold Republicans bought into it and started “distancing themselves from the President”. What would have happened if ALL Republicans decided to be MAN ENOUGH and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the President on the WOT? Did any Democrat - anyone - distance themself from Clinton at the height of his philandering ways scandal? No, in contrast, they all went out, lockstep, and gave a resounding endorsement of Clinton. I mean Lanny Davis was EVERWHERE supporting Clinton. Has there ever been a Republican Lanny Davis? NO. Republicans are proven political cowards!
John Warner will not receive my vote in 2008. I will not vote for him in neither the primary or general election.
what gets me most about this is that the Iraqi politicians are still all going on vacation. If the soldiers have to work, the police, the firefighters etc, why shouldn’t they? And where are they gonna go? It isn’t like the rest of Iraq is going to be much cooler.
how the heck are we supposed to fix this mess if they refuse to help? There is no way we can achieve a satisfactory outcome in Iraq until all of these groups decide to stop killing each other and blowing up car bombs on crowded streets
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