John Kerry Joins Reid as Co-Sponsor of Feingold Measure to Change Course in Iraq
by Pamela LeaveyToday, Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced that they are introducing new legislation that will “effectively end the current military mission in Iraq and begin the redeployment of U.S. forces.”
The bill requires the President to begin safely redeploying U.S. troops from Iraq 120 days from enactment, as required by the emergency supplemental spending bill the Senate passed last week. The bill ends funding for the war, with three narrow exceptions, effective March 31, 2008.
John Kerry (D-Mass.) announced a short time ago that he will cosponsor the legislation introduced by Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to enforce a deadline for the redeployment of US troops. Kerry said in a statement:
“President Bush has once again decided to ignore reality and ignore the will of Congress by pledging to veto a new policy for Iraq,” said Kerry. “In the face of the Administration’s stubborn unwillingness to change course, the Senate has no choice but to force a change of course. Our brave American troops deserve nothing less than a policy that is equal to their sacrifice.
“I am pleased to be an original co-sponsor of legislation that Senator Feingold plans to introduce which will change the military mission and enforce the Senate’s one year deadline for redeploying most U.S. troops from Iraq. The message it sends is simple: no more open ended commitment, no more putting American troops in the middle of an Iraqi civil war. The American mission in Iraq will be to train Iraqis and chase Al Qaeda, not do for Iraqis what they must do for themselves. With this legislation, the Senate makes it clear we mean business.“There is no military solution to the violence in Iraq, and a meaningful deadline is necessary to get Iraqis to stand up for Iraq and start making tough political compromises. I look forward to continuing the fight for a policy that can work in Iraq.”
AP News offered an exclusive with Henry Kissinger today, as noted here earlier, in which Kissinger echoed Kerry and said that “military victory not possible in Iraq.” John Kerry was an original co-sponsor with Senator Feingold in June of 2006 of legislation to set a one year deadline for the redeployment of most American combat troops. The original Kerry-Feingold legislation garnered 13 votes, and last week a similar bill earned a majority.
The language of the Feingold legislation reads:
(a) Transition of Mission – The President shall promptly transition the mission of United States forces in Iraq to the limited purposes set forth in subsection (d).
(b) Commencement of Safe, Phased Redeployment from Iraq – The President shall commence the safe, phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq that are not essential to the purposes set forth in subsection (d). Such redeployment shall begin not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Prohibition on Use of Funds – No funds appropriated or otherwise made available under any provision of law may be obligated or expended to continue the deployment in Iraq of members of the United States Armed Forces after March 31, 2008.
(d) Exception for Limited Purposes – The prohibition under subsection (c) shall not apply to the obligation or expenditure of funds for the limited purposes as follows:
(1) To conduct targeted operations, limited in duration and scope, against members of al Qaeda and other international terrorist organizations.
(2) To provide security for United States infrastructure and personnel.
(3) To train and equip Iraqi security services.
Filed under: Bush Admin, Democrats, Foreign Policy, In The News, Iraq, John Kerry, Politics, Republicans, Senate | Get Permalink or trackback |
Bush wanted an OK Corral, now he’s got it.
One can only imagine the vehement reaction from the White House to this development, but I suspect that it goes something like this:
“Now a group of Democrats has decided to actively pursue a policy of curtailing vital funding needed by our troops in Iraq.
This is both Unconscionable and Unamerican.
I therefore call upon the American People to take to the streets and participate in peaceful demonstrations of Support and Solidarity for our troops and their safety.”
Oh, and Mr Bush….
While you continue to sit on your high horse, would you please once again explain to the American people (and the world), exactly WHY our forces are in IRAQ to begin with?
Did you or did you not fabricate lies to initiate this Invasion and Occupation?
And as a consequence of that, how many deaths are directly attributable to your personal sense of vanity?
And so, as you attack the “Patriotism” of those who will no longer abide your curtain of deception, do you not possess even the slightest sensations of hypocrisy and disgrace?
Look in a mirror sir. What do you see?
And when you have figured that out, will you share your conclusions with anyone?
Or will you simply skulk away, muttering to yourself on your career path to nowheresville and continuing to point your finger at others who serve the interests of the American people?
I am betting on the latter.
Tom
Wow, it is getting deep now and I expect Bush to throw a temper tantrum as usual. He wanted a fight, well it seems like he might get it.
Yes, the Fiengold resolution makes plenty of sense. Let’s see how far it goes.
Meanwhile, we continue to send more troops into harm’s way without proper protection.
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Great post, Pamela. This is going to get interesting.
Beachmom
Somehow I managed to have to listen to the “Decider” on the radio driving my daughter to school just now. Yup – it’s going to get interesting!
There’s a cogent argument to be made that the three exceptions undo most of the benefit that the bill might have provided.
I don’t know why the politicians are still willing to settle for a half measure when the voters are calling for a full measure. Not only are we seeing no leadership, we’re not even able to get a majority to follow the lead of the people.