Senate panel OKs Iraq war resolution

[helderheid]

WASHINGTON - The Democratic-controlled
Senate Foreign Relations Committee dismissed President Bush's plans to increase troops strength in Iraq on Wednesday as "not in the national interest," an unusual wartime repudiation of the commander in chief.


The vote on the nonbinding measure was 12-9 and largely along party lines.

"We better be damn sure we know what we're doing, all of us, before we put 22,000 more Americans into that grinder," said Sen. Chuck Hagel (news, bio, voting record) of Nebraska, the sole Republican to join 11 Democrats in support of the measure.

Sen. Joseph Biden (news, bio, voting record), D-Del., the panel's chairman, said the legislation is "not an attempt to embarrass the president. ... It's an attempt to save the president from making a significant mistake with regard to our policy in Iraq."

The full Senate is scheduled to begin debate on the measure next week, and Biden has said he is willing to negotiate changes in hopes of attracting support from more Republicans.

House Democrats intend to hold a vote shortly after the Senate acts.

Even Republicans opposed to the legislation expressed unease with the revised policy involving a war that has lasted nearly four years, claimed the lives of more than 3,000 U.S. troops and helped Democrats win control of Congress in last fall's elections.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070124/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq




Susan Sarandon walks down the corridors of the Rayburn House Office Building following a meeting with U.S. veterans of the Iraq war and Californian Democratic party Congresswomen on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 24, 2007.

[helderheid]

1. kick

[helderheid]

2. .

[lyonn]

3. This is soooo Great

Or, this is a start! Rattling cages is what is happening. Our troops volunteered to serve their country, not play political games for profit that bushco is using our troops for. bushco is trying to once again use the gullibility of the populace to put those Volunteers' lives on the line for his/their personal issues (money and power).

[helderheid]

4. it is, indeed, a great start!

[lyonn]

5. Sarandon and Hagel, sure like their thinking

How hard is it to understand what bushco is doing?

We need more Dems using the terms Hagel does like meat grinder? Or whatever his term, slaughter?? This is true. We need more just plain truth on the floors of Congress. Our troops are working their butts off doing bush's biddings. BS - - give them some honor not treat them like fodder.

[lyonn]

6. Why is this post sinking??? This is important. eom

[helderheid]

9. I felt so dumb kicking it myself!

[DearAbby]

7. What a beautiful soul

She shines with it.

What wonderful news. "The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a nonbinding measure saying
President Bush's plan to increase troops in
Iraq is "not in the national interest of the United States."

[speedoo]

8. Great news.

An excellent first step toward ending this illegal war. K&R

[helderheid]

10. INDEED!

[lyonn]

11. Hey Helderheid, you made Greatest page.

Iraq is the bottom line. Our troops are the bottom line. All the other issues can be dealt with in time, not true with our Troops.

Diplomacy will cure some of the Iraqi ills, not more troops. We (bushco) started this war. Now let the adults deal with it....

Ah hell, must be honest, I know a "kid" that is on his way over there for the first time, Marine, and he is constantly on my mind. But, all those kids have been on my mind even before he got his orders.

[helderheid]

17. Thank you - I cannot imagine how anyone can justify sending anymore precious lives there.

[ms liberty]

12. K&R - Important story and great pic of Susan Sarandon, a great lady...n/t

[hashibabba]

13. I hope there will be binding resolutions soon, but this is good for now.

[lyonn]

14. We need something that is "binding," true

The Dems have been too cautious for years. Dems in Congress are generally smart people, but, cautious. The Iraqi issue is too important. We have lost credibility in the world due to bush. We are swatting the hornets nest and no one notices. Clinton knew that Diplomacy was critical to world peace. Not this bunch. No, I'm not necessarily a Hillary fan. That remains to be proven.

Edit: By the way, I like your personal quote about the Decider!

[helderheid]

16. totally agree

[LaurenG]

15. Yippy!

:bounce:

[helderheid]

18. plop!