Posted on 08/01/2006 9:01:33 AM PDT by bobsunshine
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Trying to patch over their differences before November elections, top congressional Democrats urged President George W. Bush on Monday to start pulling U.S. troops from Iraq this year but did not specify a time frame for completing the withdrawal.
Democrats, who have split over whether to demand a deadline for troop withdrawal, were seeking to present a united front on the war that has eroded Bush's popularity and may hurt Republicans in elections to determine control of Congress.
"In the interests of American national security, our troops, and our taxpayers, the open-ended commitment in Iraq that you have embraced cannot and should not be sustained," members of the Senate and House of Representatives Democratic leadership and ranking members on key committees said in a letter to Bush.
The letter called for withdrawing an unspecified number of troops this year, focusing the U.S. mission on counterterrorism and support of Iraqi forces, and redoubling diplomatic and reconstruction efforts to stabilize the country.
It reflected policies outlined in a resolution pushed by Senate Democrats that was defeated in June on a largely party-line vote. Democrats in the House have been more deeply divided over imposing a deadline for withdrawal, and were unable to come up with a consensus position during Iraq debate in that chamber in June.
With its broad call for policy changes, Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, a decorated Vietnam war veteran who rocked Congress last year when he called for withdrawing troops as quickly as possible, signed the letter along with other Democrats who have said a quick withdrawal would fuel the violence in Iraq.
Republicans have labeled Democrats as advocating "cut-and- run" policies and charged the party was in disarray over the war.
Ron Bonjean, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois, said the Democratic leadership "continues to demand that American soldiers end their mission and wave the white flag of surrender to the terrorists that we are fighting in Iraq."
The 14 Democrats who signed the letter, including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, cited the surge in violence in Iraq as "the latest evidence that your administration lacks a coherent strategy to stabilize Iraq and achieve victory."
More than 2,500 U.S. troops have died in the war that has cost more than $300 billion since the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Due to a surge in sectarian violence, the Pentagon is boosting U.S. force levels in Baghdad by about 5,000 and extending the deployments of 3,500 troops who were scheduled to come home.
The Iraq War Powers Repeal Act of 2006, H.R. 5875, was introduced on July 25 by Rep. Lynn Woolsey, a Democrat of California. The bill employs the rationale that since President Bush declared "mission accomplished" in May 2003, the US has been engaged in an occupation, not a war, which Congress never authorized.
Woolsey's bill has garnered 22 co-sponsors, but appears to have little momentum. The Congresswoman expressed her hope that two Republicans, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, and Rep. Walter Jones, Jr., of North Carolina would sign on to the bill. But key members of the House Democratic Leadership are backing other resolutions to end the Iraq War, such as the phased withdrawal proposal.
HHAAA! Spin as hard as you want for the slime Reutters. The fact is in the VOTE in the Congress not even 1/3 of the Democrats would vote for this Democrat Leadership Cut and Run dogma! So you can scream the DNC propganada all you want Rotters but it does NOT change the votes in Congress.
See those votes are the REAL position of the Democrats, not this DNC directed spin you are spewing Rotters
United front? There's only a few Dems in the front then, they were recently united in NO votes in Congress.
If this is so, then are the Dims demanding a pullout? Wouldn't it be to their advantage to let the war continue?
C'mon Reuters! I was born at night, but not last night.
Dear Democrat TRAITORS:
It has come to the attention of the American people that you are again giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the American people.
You are scum and should be in jail with your other terrorist, traitors, liars and killers.
Your actions are responsible for the death of many, many Americans and thousands of Iraqi civilians, so I am sure that you have been promised a position of leadership in the new Islamic government.
Since you are supporting the terrorist and not the American people you are TRAITORS.
Hmmmm?? Hasn't that kind of vote come up before and hasn't it been resoundly beaten both times .. like only 6 ayes and 13 ayes ..??
The dems get more and more delusional all the time.
It's a sign of insanity when you continue doing the same thing over and over again but keep expecting a different outcome.
Excellent letter. And if I could add:
P.(M) S. to the Dems: If you actually DISPLAYED a "united front" against terrorism, instead of a united front against our President and a united front in favor of the enemy...maybe this war WOULD actually be over and the mission WOULD be accomplished.
Thanks for nothing, traitorous bastards.
LOSERS!! Bush will laugh at them.
The Democrats are going to win back Congress in November, so it won't be so funny then.
"Democrats, who have split over whether to demand a deadline for troop withdrawal, were seeking to present a united front on the war that has eroded Bush's popularity and may hurt Republicans in elections to determine control of Congress. "
If it is going to hurt Republicans so much, why make changes?
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