I did not realize that this bill that sets a deadline for the war also allocates

[Maraya1969]

millions of dollars for health care for soldiers, treatment specifically for people who have lost limbs and for PTSD.

I feel very proud of our party right now and I can't wait to tell my dear friend who is a veteran with serious illness and sub-standard care so far. I pray this helps her and all of our soldiers.

[ccpup]

1. I didn't know that.

that's friggin' awesome! the Dems better get on the same page and start trumpeting loud and clear -- especially in the wake of Walter Reed and all the other VA Hospitals swimming with rats and buried in mold that the public still has on it's collective mind -- that when Little Boots vetoes the bill, he's vetoing health care for our injured warriors (as he would call them) as well as money for training, equipment, protection, etc.

[youngdem]

Sadly, this bill has no chance of passing

Bush is gonna veto it and we could never muster an override. Hell, we had to put Billions in fucking pork in it for fellow DEMOCRATS to support it, for Christ's sake.

Bush will veto, the Dems will get railroaded for not supporting the troops, and a watered down War finance supplemental will pass this summer with bullshit 'teeth' in it calling for a withdrawal at the soonest possible date or some such mushy bullshit.

The simple fact is that we won't be leaving Iraq until Obama is sworn in, and if Hillary or the Repuke wins, we may not leave for many years hence.

[mediaman007]

5. He has no reason to veto it. The bill gives him the flexibilty to

move the deadlines. Further, the bill will be merged with a Senate bill. A conference committee will compromise. The Republicans are in for a lot of hell! This is really a great start. George W. will wish he was a one term president when this Congress is through!

[Maraya1969]

6. Well Bush is going to look pretty damn bad if he vetoes a bill that give money to veterans

Hammer that one down their throats

[RiverStone]

2. That's the good of it...

For sure.

The bad of it is ultimately it's a far cry from what many of us expected from the Hill last November.
Loopholes will continue to allow Shrub to make executive decisions on this disastrous Iraq war; which will in turn necessitate millions more $$$ for future soldiers who need both medical and PTSD follow-up.

IMHO, it is a wimpy and weak response to the BushCo war machine. Though it is progress - a start anyway to hold Shrub and the rethugs on record as obstructionists for an already failed war.

[sandnsea]

3. There's a lot to fight for in this bill

It's not perfect as far as a withdrawal date - but there's a lot of good in it and it would be nice if we could get the country rallying behind it. It would be a nice defeat of Bush, if nothing else.

[Ghost in the Machine]

4. I just posted about this too....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3178075

:hi:

Ghost

[MGKrebs]

7. A good comment by a Georgia US Rep:

From Rep. Hank Johnson:

I am passionately opposed to the war in Iraq. I am committed to bringing our brave troops home and sickened by the prospect of prolonging this tragic and unnecessary conflict.

And today I have made a very difficult decision – by far the most difficult I have ever made in public service.

In our efforts to end this war, we in Congress are faced with imperfect options. The U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act upon which we voted today is a strong bill and will do much to hasten our withdrawal from Iraq. But it is a flawed bill, an imperfect bill. I had hoped for a more aggressive measure and, in past weeks, considered voting against it.

I was an original supporter of the amendment offered by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, which called for a fully-funded, immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Regrettably, that amendment was rejected before it could even be considered on the floor. It is clear that more aggressive measures to curtail the president’s power would be destined for the same fate in this body.

The harsh reality is that we must deal in the world of the possible, not the ideal. I wish we could do more and do it quickly. But this bill, for all its faults, is the best we can hope to pass at this time. As such, and not without misgivings, I have decided that passing this law is the best first step we can take toward ending the war in Iraq.

Defeat of this bill, even on principled grounds, may ultimately prolong this war. That is something I cannot and will not stand for.

I carefully considered voting against this bill and holding out for something more aggressive and restrictive. But, having watched this debate unfold, I am convinced that such a proposal would not pass. If our true aim is bringing this war to a close as quickly as possible, we must support the most aggressive legislation that is passable, not simply the most aggressive legislation.

If we hold out for the ideal and fail to pass this bill today, we may congratulate ourselves tomorrow for standing up for our principles. But the hard truth is that our principled inaction risks sentencing our brave men and women in uniform to more tours of duty, more street patrols, more IED attacks – all because we failed to distinguish between what we want to do and what we are able to do.

This bill will require withdrawal of U.S. armed forces from Iraq if its conditions are not met. It will hold the Iraqi government officials accountable for their action and inaction. It will greatly increase funding for the care of our veterans, who have been neglected upon their return from heroic and frequently traumatic service abroad. It will appropriate deeply needed funds to restore our proud military to a state of strength and readiness.

This is an imperfect bill. But, for all its flaws, it is the right first step -- the right step today.

I will solemnly lend it my support.

http://www.goodwillhinton.com/exit_strategy_why_i_supported_the_iraq_accountability_act