Rep. Lynne Woosley: The case for a fully funded withdrawal from Iraq

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from Kos: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/3/6/152821/5650


Tue Mar 06, 2007 at 12:32:34 PM PST

Friends,

A couple of weeks ago I wrote, regarding the House vote against the escalation, that to "oppose the escalation is an important first step, but it must be the beginning of our debate, not the end." Today, I wanted to take a moment to follow up on that post, and make my position clear -

the only money I will support for Iraq is funding that is used for the withdrawal of every last US soldier and military contractor from Iraq.

* Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey's diary: http://congresswoman-lynn-woolsey.dailykos.com/

Our soldiers are dying in Iraq because President Bush refuses to recognize that it’s time to bring our troops home, his is a position that has been overwhelmingly rejected by the American public. Democrats were elected in November in conservative districts across the country so that we could find an end to the war, and now the majority of the American public supports a time-bound withdrawal plan that ensures that our troops return home in a safe and orderly fashion.

It’s time to end our military occupation of Iraq, and it’s time to fully fund our withdrawal.

Conservatives have tried to portray the progressive position as one of cutting off funding for our troops in the field, and many have questioned our patriotism. Others have gone so far as to claim that we are working against our men and women in harm’s way. Nothing could be further from the truth, and we must stand up and confront their lies.

A fully funded withdrawal would ensure that our military commanders have any and all resources available to them to bring our troops home, while providing for their security during the process. This isn’t about cutting funding, this about providing the resources for an orderly withdrawal, allowing our troops to come home to their families, and for our military to regroup, and stand prepared to defend our country if, and when, we are truly faced with a threat to our national security.

-Lynn


Out of Iraq caucus amendment for a 'fully-funded withdrawal: http://woolsey.house.gov/latestnews.asp?ARTICLE5110=356638


Below are her remarks during Thursday morning’s press conference, as prepared for delivery:

“The occupation of Iraq has been an unmitigated disaster.

“Nearly 3,200 American dead and tens of thousands wounded…a bloody civil war ignited in Iraq…our national security jeopardized and diminished…the terrorism threat increased…American prestige around the world driven to an historic low.

“This nightmare must end, and this proposal would do just that - by mandating that any Iraq appropriations must be used to fully fund a safe, orderly withdrawal of American troops and military contractors by December 31st. Actually, we want our troops home to their families by Christmas.

“We have no other choice but to act boldly. A symbolic non-binding resolution on the escalation isn’t enough. It’s certainly not enough to put restrictions on the President that he can easily waive.

“It’s time for Congress to prove itself worthy of the confidence Americans placed in it with their vote last November. It’s time to honor the mandate and assert ourselves as a co-equal branch of government with legitimate constitutional war powers.

“It’s time Congress finally caught up to the people we represent, who recognized long ago that the Bush Iraq policy was a train wreck.

“The White House has shown nothing but contempt for public sentiment when it comes to Iraq; if we won’t stand up for Americans on this issue, who will?

“Ours is the mainstream position. We deserve our place in this debate and our seat at the table. We will not be marginalized, and we will be heard.

“We support our troops, and we always have. And the best way to support them today is to get behind a fully-funded withdrawal that brings them home from Iraq.”

http://www.woolsey.house.gov/latestnews.asp?ARTICLE5110=356638

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1. "Fully-funded withdrawal."

Give that woman a prize for framing. Beeyooteefool.

Let us all write in support of a fully-funded withdrawal.

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2. probably goes to the amendment's main sponsor, Rep. Barbara Lee

AMENDMENT TO H.R. ll , AS REPORTED
(SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS, 2007)
OFFERED BY MS. LEE OF CALIFORNIA
At the end of the bill (before the short title),insert
the following:
SEC.ll .(a)Funds appropriated for Operation
Iraqi Freedom or otherwise made available to the Depart-
ment of Defense under any provision of law may be obli-
gated and expended within the Republic of Iraq only for
the purpose of providing for —

(1)the continued protection of members of the
Armed Forces who are in Iraq participating in Oper-
ation Iraqi Freedom,and Department of Defense
contractor personnel who are in Iraq performing
contracts related to such Operation,pending and
during the withdrawal of such members of the
Armed Forces and such contractor personnel;and

(2)the safe and complete withdrawal from Iraq
of all members of the Armed Forces and contractor
personnel described in paragraph (1)pursuant to a
plan that provides for completion of the withdrawal
not later than six months after the date of the en-
actment of this Act.