United House and Senate Democratic Leaders Urge President to Change Course

[Omaha Steve]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=71682

United House and Senate Democratic Leaders Urge President to Change Course in Iraq; Call for Changes to Iraq Policy

9/4/2006 1:02:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: Jim Manley or Rebecca Kirszner (Harry Reid), 202-255-3736 or 202-281-5425; Brendan Daly (Nancy Pelosi), 202-225-3225

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, House and Senate Democratic Leaders and ranking members from the key national security committees wrote to the President about the continued deterioration of the security situation in Iraq. Citing the escalating violence in the five weeks since the leaders' July 30 letter to the President, the letter calls for a new direction in Iraq to include the beginning of a phased redeployment of U.S. troops before the end of 2006. In addition to again urging the President to consider changing his Iraq policy, the letter urges the President to change the civilian leadership at the Department of Defense.

Quotes from the Letter:

"In short, Mr. President, this current path - for our military, for the Iraqi people, and for our security - is neither working, nor making us more secure.

"With daily attacks against American and Iraqi troops at close to their highest levels since the start of the war, and sectarian violence intensifying, we can only conclude that our troops are caught in the middle of a low-grade civil war that is getting worse."

"Therefore, we urge you once again to consider changes to your Iraq policy. We propose a new direction, which would include: (1) transitioning the U.S. mission in Iraq to counter-terrorism, training, logistics and force protection; (2) beginning the phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq before the end of this year; (3) working with Iraqi leaders to disarm the militias and to develop a broad-based and sustainable political settlement, including amending the Constitution to achieve a fair sharing of power and resources; and (4) convening an international conference and contact group to support a political settlement in Iraq, to preserve Iraq's sovereignty, and to revitalize the stalled economic reconstruction and rebuilding effort.

FULL story and Full LETTER @ link above.

[Demeter]

1. Good CYA Move

Now Democrats on record for disengagement from Middle East, and therefore, no way they can keep this farce going after the power shifts.

I like the thought of putting warmongers and hawks in a bind. Especially if Hillary reconsiders that Presidential run she's thinking of giving up, even tho' she's never announced.

[Monkeyman]

2. Watch this week when they are back all hell is about to break out

[rodeodance]

3. this yahoo article talked about it this earlier today

Original message
change the civilian leadership of the Pent--letter to Bush by Reid/Dems



..In a largely symbolic move unlikely to garner support from Bush's Republican allies in Congress, Boxer's resolution slams the defense chief's remarks as a national affront, and the final straw in his controversial tenure at the helm of the
Pentagon.

"These slanderous comments apply directly to the American people," the text of her legislation reads.

Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress in a letter Monday to Bush called for a complete overhaul of US Iraq policy, including "changing the civilian leadership at the Defense Department."

"We do not believe the current civilian leadership at the
Department of Defense is suited to implement and oversee such a change in policy," read the letter signed by top House and Senate Democrats.

"Unfortunately, your stay the course strategy is not working," the Democrats' letter continued.

"With daily attacks against American and Iraqi troops at close to their highest levels since the start of the war, and sectarian violence intensifying, we can only conclude that our troops are caught in the middle of a low-grade civil war that is getting worse," read the letter signed by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060904/pl_afp/usiraqpolit...

[rodeodance]

4. Democrats push Bush to sack US defense chief Rumsfeld

Democrats push Bush to sack US defense chief Rumsfeld

2 hours, 37 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Democrats stepped up pressure on
President George W. Bush to sack Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ahead of legislative elections in November.


With Congress returning this week from a month-long holiday, the effort was spearheaded by US Senator Barbara Boxer, who announced plans to offer an amendment to a defense spending bill calling on the president to immediately appoint a new secretary of defense.

Her move comes as opposition Democrats expressed outrage over comments last week by Rumsfeld which compared critics of US
Iraq policy to Nazi appeasers, saying they fail to understand the fascist nature of Islamic terrorism.

In a largely symbolic move unlikely to garner support from Bush's Republican allies in Congress, Boxer's resolution slams the defense chief's remarks as a national affront, and the final straw in his controversial tenure at the helm of the
Pentagon.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060904/pl_afp/usiraqpolitics_060904185223

[ConcernedCanuk]

5. If a Dem gets into office, the PNACers will either destroy him politically

.
.
.

or kill him

Just ask the Kennedys

[Canuckistanian]

6. Clinton wasn't killed by the PNACers

But they sure did a number on him and yet he survived, politically.

Unfortunately, the next Dem leader wil have to take more 'drastic' action to reverse the current power structure, like Kennedy tried to do.

It all depends on how dedicated the next President will be in recovering America's honor (American spelling)

And don't expect big changes if Hillary gets in.

[jazzjunkysue]

7. Let's examine the roster: I need help with 5 of them.

These are gimmmies:
Harry Reid, Senate Democratic Leader,Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader, Dick Durbin, Senate Assistant Democratic Leader, Steny Hoyer, House Minority Whip, Joe Biden, Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

This is good, and damn gutsy:

Carl Levin, Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee, and John Murtha, Ranking Member, House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

Anyone know about the last 5:?

Ike Skelton, Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee

Tom Lantos, Ranking Member, House International Relations Committee

Jay Rockefeller, Vice Chairman, Senate Intelligence Committee

Jane Harman, Ranking Member, House Intelligence Committee

Daniel Inouye, Ranking Member, Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee

Where have they been on Iraq? Are they all repubs? Are any of them old Reagan/Kissinger repubs? Any neocons? Are they in McCain's camp?

Anyone know?