The US House of Representatives has voted today for President George Bush to pull US troops out of Iraq. The bill, outlined here, links funding for the Iraq war to an August 31, 2008 deadline for withdrawing all US combat troops.
The bill passed by 218 votes to 212 by the Democratic-controlled House. It is the boldest challenge yet to Bush's Iraq strategy. The president has said he will veto the bill, which will now go before the Senate.
Thank you Tara, for the summary. Very much appreciated. A young woman I work with - her husband is home from Iraq for two weeks. He is so serious and changed.
I remember years ago being caught by a journalist on the street and he asked the question - do you support troops going to Iraq? My answer hasn't changed and has actually been proven to becoming true. My answer was "NO. We will have another Viet Nam." That being said, the No. Vietnamese didn't spread their violence all over the planet. I continue to fear for the Iraqi people and what they may have yet to face.
Posted by: AnnieElf | 24 March 2007 at 18:46
WOW a plan exactly what they needed beofre this began...I too would like to veto Bush.
XO
Kristen
Posted by: kristen robinson | 24 March 2007 at 15:05
Counting the days til Bush is Gone!...I loved all your Tulips and bunnies from your earlier post! And YOUY uare lucky!.. I won 4 prizes from the Valentine giveaway! ..2 from this one! Yay!
Posted by: pam aries | 24 March 2007 at 13:47
I'm not American, but "Yay!" anyway. Double "Yay!" Let the money that would have been used for destruction reconstruct a post-war Iraq instead. Don't those words just sound sweet? Say them again:
"Post-war Iraq"
Posted by: Rethabile | 24 March 2007 at 08:03
I hope this is a sign that the tide is turning towards a more peaceful time.
Posted by: tinker | 24 March 2007 at 07:57
I am sure this will bring relief to the families of those who have sons, daughters, wives, husbands, etc... fighting in Iraq. Hope it goes through.
Posted by: nel | 23 March 2007 at 23:24
I'm with Sophie :) I agree with your comment response to Annie but the troubles will not end after we are gone. I fear Iran will stir the pot even further. I feel for the next president. XXOO
Posted by: Tammy | 23 March 2007 at 22:15
I have very mixed feelings about this Tara. I want our troops home. I see much more trouble in the future for Iraq with a specific announced withdrawal date.
Tara responds:
Annie, if you read the bill you'll see that it calls for a phased withdrawal, with the president being held accountable for certain improvements within a specific time frame and our Iraqi partners also being made to meet certain expectations within a specific time frame. The president does not like to be held accountable for his actions and I would imagine this provision of the bill, more than anything else, is why he opposes the bill. He wants a blank check to spend whatever he wants and send as many troops as he wants - even if they don't have the proper equipment. This bill provides that they do have the equipment they need to protect themselves.
In four years, the situation has not improved, it's only gotten worse. If it were my son or daughter serving in Iraq, I would want some sort of plan in force for an end to this madness. This administration's plans have been too little too late. BBC published a sampling of the world's press reports on the four-year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and every single newspaper in countries around the globe was pessimistic about any chance of the situation improving, the way things are being handled. Rumsfeld made too many mistakes and these can't be corrected by more troops or more time. Bush obviously will leave the next administration to clean up his mess - but not before he can spend every last tax dollar to try to salvage his pride and reputation. I'll say it again: too little, too late. If we don't set a timed withdrawal of troops, we'll be in Iraq for as long as Vietnam or worse. We can't make a bad plan work, especially as our Iraqi partners are hopelessly ineffective. The Iraqis need to stand up for their country, rather than fighting each other - otherwise, Iraq will be partitioned into three countries. You can't force democracy on people who don't appreciate the concept.
Posted by: AnnieElf | 23 March 2007 at 20:47
Thank goodness our Housepeople finally grew spines to stand up to the Imposter. I don't say "his" name anymore because I think he gives fauna everywhere a bad connotation.
Posted by: Literary bohemian | 23 March 2007 at 20:20
i would like to veto the president.
Posted by: sophie | 23 March 2007 at 19:24