(Levin)Senator Asks Ultimatum Be Given Iraq on Charter

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON, June 22 - The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin of Michigan, called on Wednesday for a major shift in American policy toward Iraq, saying the administration must hold out the prospect of a major troop withdrawal unless Iraqis meet a self-imposed deadline to agree on a constitution by next February.

Senator Levin outlined the recommendation in an interview a day before Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and top American commanders were to appear before the Senate panel to discuss Iraq.

With President Bush acknowledging that the United States still faces a "long, hard slog in Iraq," Mr. Levin is the latest Democrat to offer his own prescription for a new American approach. But he is highly respected on defense issues, and he said that he was seeking Republican support for what he called an option to an "unacceptable status quo."

"The United States needs to state to Iraqis and the world" that if the February deadline is not met, "we will review our position with all options open, including, but not limited to, setting a timetable for withdrawal," Mr. Levin said. But he made clear that he would oppose calls from other Democrats to set a specific withdrawal deadline now.

~snip~
more:http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/23/politics/23military.html

[ECH1969]

1. Now that is a good idea

It is good to see democrats continue to be the only ones with brains.

[MichiganVote]

2. They have made this thing worse than a bad divorce

[bemildred]

3. More bullshit. Bring them home NOW!

The new constitution will make exactly as much difference as the new "election" did: zero.

[VegasWolf]

4. Why, NOTHING stopped Bush from Illegally invading Iraq in the 1st place.

These Republican halfwits think that only Bush can keep them
safe from terrorists. Ultimatiums won't do anything until Bush
gets all his oil.

[Cocoa]

7. the ultimatum would be on Iraq

not on the republicans.

[VegasWolf]

11. An ultimatum on Iraq is worthless as long as the Bush cartel wants

to stay in Iraq and steal their oil. That is my point.

[leesa]

5. What crap this is! Just another mechanism to keep the war on.

Anything drafted under force is meaningless. Who the hell are we to make ultimatums. WE are the bad guys...the lawbreakers.

[Oversea Visitor]

6. Mr Senator

Has the OUT OF IRAQ CAUCUS finally woke you up

Dont you care about the soldiers, the families of the soldiers, the families of the soldiers who soon be dead because you think dragging your feet is a better option :cry:

[5thGenDemocrat]

8. Um, Carl Levin is one of the senators who voted NO

On the Iraq War Resolution. He's a founding member of the Out of Iraq Caucus -- someone who didn't want to be IN Iraq in the first place.
John
Just pointing that out.

[maddezmom]

9. thanks for doing so

:hi:

[Oversea Visitor]

10. Then he needs to rethink his words

The fact is this war is wrong the fact that more innocents will die for no reason.
I know politics you need to compromise to get things through
But somehow I feel there must be a line
Do what is right
His words are promises his words allow room to keep the troop there longer
Read his options they just words so what if Iraq did not meet the dateline does the troops withdraw ? I dont see this STATE IT CLEAR we dealing with lives fathers mothers brothers sisters someone lose them everyday for what?
What can be more important then this people lives?
When does one stop compromising and start doing when does one stop double talk and start doing
Pull the TROOPS OUT NOW. Period.
The objective is TROOP OUT NOW. And until that is done innocents people will keep dying.
It wont happen tommorrow God knows when but the NOW must be stated.
It is not an option and should not be allow to be an option
HE MAKE IT CLEAR HE DONT WANT A TIMETABLE
What does he wants???

[Moderator]

12. kick

[ckramer]

13. Senator Asks Ultimatum Be Given Iraq on Charter

The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin of Michigan, called on Wednesday for a major shift in American policy toward Iraq, saying the administration must hold out the prospect of a major troop withdrawal unless Iraqis meet a self-imposed deadline to agree on a constitution by next February.

Senator Levin outlined the recommendation in an interview a day before Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and top American commanders were to appear before the Senate panel to discuss Iraq.

With President Bush acknowledging that the United States still faces a "long, hard slog in Iraq," Mr. Levin is the latest Democrat to offer his own prescription for a new American approach. But he is highly respected on defense issues, and he said that he was seeking Republican support for what he called an option to an "unacceptable status quo."

"The United States needs to state to Iraqis and the world" that if the February deadline is not met, "we will review our position with all options open, including, but not limited to, setting a timetable for withdrawal," Mr. Levin said. But he made clear that he would oppose calls from other Democrats to set a specific withdrawal deadline now.

link

[evermind]

14. Kind of ironic to use troop withdrawal as a threat, when the

largest Iraqi parliamentary party is calling for withdrawal to start..

But I guess the crunch is that if the US withdrew, the lifetime of the "puppet" government would probably be measured in weeks, so it's still a good threat to use against those who want to hang on to power at any cost and are prepared to go against the wishes of the majority of their voters...

[confludemocrat]

17. Safe to say that this would be an incentive to not finish Constitution

And who are we anyway to be issuing ultimatums to Iraq in anyway? Last one U.S. issued was by Bush on the even of the attack. The whole process from start to finish is queered (apologies to gay friends) anyway. Democrats should be demanding withdrawal, they are behind the curve of public sickness of this massive fuckup.

[Oversea Visitor]

15. What a cold towel

But then again the republican party candiate will die if they go into 06 with this crap in the air
BUSH LIE
SOLDIERS DIE
NO SOLDIERS SHOULD DIE FOR A LIE

You want my vote sir
get your emperor chimp to answer this

[Javaman]

16. wow, nothing like forcing democracy down their throats, huh?

"You better get that constitution in order, so we can leave, okay?"

This sounds like the farthest thing from freedom being on the march, to me it reeks of desperation.