Posted on 07/10/2007 4:46:22 AM PDT by advance_copy
WASHINGTON -- Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has teamed up with a Democratic colleague in drafting legislation to force a halt to U.S. combat missions in Iraq.
Collins and Ben Nelson of Nebraska said their binding amendment to the defense policy bill would order the U.S. mission to focus on training the Iraqi security forces, targeting al-Qaida members and protecting Iraq's borders.
The Maine senator said her goal is "to redefine the mission and set the stage for a significant but gradual drawdown of our troops next year."
(Excerpt) Read more at wmtw.com ...
It's pretty clear that the founders were wrong about establishing the President as Commander-in-Chief in the U.S. Constitution. Collins and Nelson make it clear for all to see. The Senate should take over command of our military, since they are so brilliant. /sarc
Can someone point to a time when the U.S. Congress legislated a military strategy that resulted in victory? I don't think Saigon 1975 counts.
How about if Congress just remembers that they don’t set strategy. That is the job of the commander in chief.
"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
What good are you Senator... if you side with both the dims and al qaeda???
She is NO Republican... purge her and the rest of the Rino faction today!!! I don’t care... if they are not with us, they are against us... PERIOD!
LLS
she would make our soldiers into sitting ducks ala Reagan’s Beirut Marines. Stupid stupid idea. She is a vapor-head.
Our warriors down range need our base to cover their flanks. Allow them to continue to be successful and see this mission through. Call GOP Representatives today. No BS. find the time, be civil but contact as many GOP representatives as you can today and for the weeks ahead. The base changed the course of the immigration bill. We can make sure DC stands firm behind our warriors down range.
Contacts:
DC Office Information
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2523
Fax: (202) 224-2693
Email contact on page:
http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=Home.Home&IsTextOnly=false&IsSkipSplash=true
Washington, D.C.
720 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-6551
Fax: (202) 228-0012
http://bennelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
Did these idiots not just get finished redefining the mission? Didn't General Petraeus (sp) testify before Congress as to the details of this redefining? Did they not vote unanimously for the General and his plan? Idiots!
It is far past time for Bush to come out with guns ablazing against these asshole Senators.
Unfortunately, this situation is the result of the White House’s refusal to articulate the situation in Iraq, so it is doubtful they will start now. I just don’t get it.
Doesn’t this woman have some laundry at home that needs to be done, or something?
Glad to see others had the same initial thought. If she wants to be the CINC then she should run for President.
My second thought was ... well decorum and JimRobs rules keep me from printing it.
Oh hell, FTBALHD!
Read down in this article to see what the DCCC plans on spending in ads to pressure republicans and the president into leaving Iraq:
http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2007/07/10/ap/headlines/d8q9igg00.txt
Sedition.
You’ve got to understand, this is a woman from a state where the entire economy has gone to hell and even the Republicans there never met a tax they didn’t like.
Collins, Snowe, the whole lot of them haven’t the first clue what it means to be conservative, and they wonder why they can’t get anyone but their idiot fellow traveller libs from Mass to show up in their state anymore.
Amen. They know the Defense Appropriation Legislation is coming up as well, they can’t wait to lollygag around (a la troops funding), as they bash our mission (unlike wanting to stay weekends to give the country away to illegals and terrorists relatives).
They vet Petraeus, taking him through hell, approve him, then say two weeks later... we want a new strategy, even though it was a new one and wanted to slam it. The additional troops are there and two days later, “The surge isn’t working”; Our guys are kicking ass and taking names, but no... Pull out!
Now since there’s not enough bad news for them and they can’t be silent and let them do their jobs, it’s Iraq Gov’t failed on all deadlines (via leak prior to Iraq Progress Report). Maybe it’s me, but I thought the report back was for September, with Petraeus asking for up to April.
Face it, we have some self-centered, power and money hungry POSs on that hill. It seems not a one has read the constitution, history, law or floor procedures. Little things like the CinCs executive powers and congress’ role.
They make me ashamed... not to be an American, but to be human.
It’s Nelson too. Warner’s drafting something as well.
To: General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander
From: US Congress
Ref: D-Day requirements
General Eisenhower,
In regards to the proposed invasion of France the congress of the United States has passed the following bill which mandates that the operation must adhere to these requirements:
1. The bombing of all French property and or infrastructure is prohibited.
2. A major port must be the target of the invasion.
3. The reading and editing of American letters home is prohibited.
4. The illegal intercepting of private German military communications are prohibited.
5. The invasion must occur during high tide.
Other than these requirements we leave the other decisions of this operation to you General. Thank you.
P.S.: Of course the decision as to when the invasion will actually take place will be decided by this body.
Collins is an idiot for what she is trying to do. If she wants to change strategy, she should resign from the senate and run for president.
Stop combat operations but go after AQ. What the hell does that mean?
She doesn’t know what it means to be conservative; hell she doesn’t know her own role as a senator, nor as an american.
Yup, Collins and the rest of the so-called leaders of the senate, don’t understand their own responsibilities.
This whole effort is just a no confidence vote in General Patraeus and our troops, and Collins and the rest of them, could care less. They are willing to turn America over to AQ, and they do it with smiles on their faces. Idiots, all of them.
You've insulted vapor-heads everywhere.
Susan never knew how to win a war. Just lay on your back and take it.
Sheesh. How does this country survive?
You understand Maine very well, neighbor.
So now most Democrats and a few Republicans are bona fide traitors. These enemies of the United States need to be strung up.
Too bad GWB is too much of a pu$$y and too busy with arranging a foreign invasion of America to put a stop to this nonsense. I used to support him, now I just want his useless arse to go away.
Sadly, it’s a beautiful place driven to hell because of the socialists up there. I see good people who can no longer function under the horrific burden of the highest state/local tax burden in the nation, and no end in sight because they keep re-electing the same idiot Democrats back to Augusta and Washington.
I just hope we in NH can learn from you and MA before it’s too late for us too.
Dear General Collins,
Your announcement today that you are some sort of co-CIC and are now planning military missions in place of the Constitutional authority has led me to change my mind about voting for you in the 2008 elections.
If you are going to act the backstabber, General, then I am going to vote for your opponent Tommy the Commie. After all, why should I vote for a pale imitation when I can get a real traitor?
Sorry to see your career end on such a sad and shabby note.
Goodbye and good riddance.
metesky
You have a rea good point. Listen let’s not forget that the people who wanted to remain British had to go North to Canada after they lost the American Revolution and may have been pining to reunite with the monarchy ever since...........some of their descendants and intermingling may have merged into the mix.........
Sorry to tell you this Sparky, but NH has fallen a long way from the days when I grew up on the MA/NH border and one of my uncles served in the NH senate. Even Judd Greg is making squirmy noises now.
“If any President ever signed such a piece of treasonous crap it would literally hand congress the CIC role and exactly what our founding fathers didn’t want, 535 Commander in Chiefs.”
.....
Which is EXACTLY what is happening in the UK! Gordon Brown is surrendering his war/executive powers to the Parliament and becoming a figurehead in order to “make the government more accountable to the people”? Henceforth, The UK will not be in any more wars. How is such a thing possible with Parliament running the show? It will be exactly the same here with Congress in charge. A terrifying thought.
Cowards ALL!!!
Collins moons the Republican Party.
I blame the folks from Boston, NYC, CT, etc that have taken the state over and regulated & taxed nearly all business out of of the state in the name of keeping it "picturesque".
High taxes and low salaries were why I left. Many Mainers have a 2nd job, or a hobby that they can turn a few bucks at (one of my cousins grows and sells blueberries, another cousin goes clamming). Tellingly, my wife noticed this and wondered why. I told her that they needed to, to get by....Mrs WBill and I are fortunate enough to live in a place in the country where we can do OK on a sigle salary, and not everywhere is like that. I think that it was an eye-opening experience for her.
I miss the Maine that I grew up in, and wish that I could take my kids back to the old Maine. I'll need to be satisfied with visiting the "new and improved" Maine occasionally and telling them a story or two.
The President is responsible for the war and is constitutionally vested with the authority to wage it. If these senators wish to take that authority away from him they can do so but they must then take responsibility for the out come. They do not have the fortitude to do that. The American people voted for Bush to stay in office in 2006 and unless they want to remove him they can only advise and consent in the form of funding and political policy... Its show time for all these week kneed posers. Stand up and tell them that nothing will change until we win in Iraq or Bush leaves office. If whoever takes his place doesn’t have the will to continue in Iraq it is a certainty that he (or she) will be tested by much more dire threats in short order. Show weakness and these dogs will be at our collective throats...
We really have to fix education; Had they had a real history and government teacher...
And before that real American parents. I bet they have no military family members in their past, if they do, double shame.
But what am I saying... look at Murtha, Kerry, Warner and the rest.
It’s time for another march on Washington.
You’re kidding right?
Should you clue him in or should I? Is it even worth it?
And he’s been here a while (shakes head).
From what I've been reading about NH, it's already too late for you [I'm an ex-NH resident-grew up in Nashua, Milford and Wilton].
“The GOP should have booted Collins, Snowe, Hagel and the other RINOs that we’ve been watching destroy the Union for years now but instead the GOP tolerated it all in the name of the Big Tent Party.”
100 % agreement on this statement
I agree that not enough young adults know enough about politics. Last Thurs., I was with John Cox, a conservative Chicago businessman who is running for president, while he was interviewed by a TV reporter in Rockford, IL. He said that his name will be on the ballot, for the Iowa straw poll, and the reporter, a beautiful lady who is about 25, said, “What’s a straw poll?” When Cox was interviewed by a Peoria newspaper reporter, a pretty lady who is about 25, he said that, in ‘88, he was on Jack Kemp’s steering committee. She said, “How do you spell Kemp? I’ve never heard of him.”
If you want to learn more about John Cox, please read his site, www.cox2008.com. He opposed the immigration bill. He’s pro-life and pro-gun rights. During the Linn Co., IA, straw poll, he received more votes than Giuliani and McCain, combined.
‘What good are you Senator... if you side with both the dims and al qaeda???
She is NO Republican... purge her and the rest of the Rino faction today!!! I don’t care... if they are not with us, they are against us... PERIOD!’
I recall reading somewhere that either Snowe or Collins once worked for Cyrus Vance....their votes and positions haven’t surprised me since.
True and even more reason to dump them in the trash! Their States had better find ANYONE that is to the right of them... to run against them in the Primary.
LLS
I don't agree at all (other then the WH/RNC have done a terrible job within the PR aspect of modern warfare. On this front we have had our as$es handed to us).
With regard to the WOT/Iraq - Our mission was clearly given to us (and the nation) since day one.
1. Phase I - To remove the brutal Saddam regime (accomplished). 2. Phase II - To see that a newly established gov't be set up (accomplished) & 3. Phase III (which has proved difficult no question about it) to stand with this newly established gov't until it was able and capable of standing on its own two-feet & defending itself.
These three phases were expressed clearly since day one - We have accomplished the first two with incredible success by any and all historic standards (timely, loss of life, etc, etc). Phase III has been the most difficult - AQ and its mimics have done all they can to see us (the new Iraqi Gov't) fail.
But even in this regard, we are systematically winning. More and more "insurgent grps" have turned away from AQ and their mimics -
The number of private contractors exceeds the number of troops.
What's that have to do with the price of corn??? The numbers in support elements always out number those in the front operational forces - In the modern day Army (world) many support elements have simply been outsourced to the private sector - So that there is more private contractors is meaningless in terms of anything negative. More support then operational forces is the nature of the beast in warfare.
War Czar to do what?
Silly needless position, I'll agree. Simply a CYA type position for the system to have. He is basically Homeland's directors earn boy (no real authority....there to help put out inter-agency fires....Of which there will always be plenty).
Isn't that the sad truth - Regardless, keep the intensity and faith. Contact members of Congress. Tell them to stand firm. Be civil but be blunt (GOP members).
If our base stands up and protects our guys down range flanks (home side) GOP members will get the message (just like immigration).
Will our base stand up and protect our warriors flanks is now the real question. It isn't just Congress our base can make them as well.
Check your FReepMail.
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