Republicans again block Iraq withdrawals
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Republican senators on Friday were again able to block a Democratic amendment that would set "definite timelines" for bringing home American combat forces from Iraq.
Democrats will keep pushing to bring troops home from Iraq, Sen. Harry Reid says.
The amendment, offered by Sens. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, and Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, called for the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq in nine months. It failed on a vote of 47 to 47 - falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance under Senate rules.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday said the Levin-Reed proposal is "basically the same as it was" back in July, when it drew the support of 52 senators, including four Republicans.
TIME.com: The Dems' Best Chance on Iraq?
From CNN Politics
- Romney bows out after three weeks January 31, 2015 02:13 pm
- Wider path for Jeb Bush January 30, 2015 11:20 pm
- Wall Street wasn't ready for more Mitt January 30, 2015 11:10 pm
- Clues that Romney wouldn't run January 30, 2015 11:44 pm
- White House deletes blurred Mitt Romney-Suge Knight tweet January 30, 2015 11:06 pm
- Would-be 2016 foes welcome decision January 30, 2015 11:10 pm
What I don't understand is why the article is titled "Republicans again block Iraq withdrawals" when three democrats voted against that measure and three republicans voted for the measure.
Could it be a CNN bias showing again?
If the democrats can't get their entire team voting in the same direction why are they blaming the republicans for the failure of their measures?
Judging by the majority of comments here (mostly hogged by trekks the intellect), it seems some people have a difficult time discerning the difference between terrorism, it's causes, and the imperial invasion of Iraq which has fueled the cause of terrorism.
Hey trekks, or whatever other fifteen names you use, the world is not so simplistic like that. And people who oppose the war are not traitors or hate American, or whatever other stupid names you might want to construct. Most Dems (and the millions who don't fall into your black and white world) support fighting Islamic terrorism. This war in Iraq is a distraction and a drain on our military resources.
What's the point of arguing? If you don't get it by now, you never will. I feel sorry for your hateful, narrow-minded outlook of the world.
Tired right-sider, U.S:
Sorry, when did I state I was a Democrat ??
You sound so sure of yourself when you decry "pull-out, bring our forces home, abort, retreat, surrender, give up", but when did I ever say that the United States should do any of those things ?? If anything, I inferred we should take the fight to Syria and Iran.
The Bush administration can refuse to set timetables for pull-out, that's fine. US Forces SHOULD stay until the job is done. But what are the measures for success ? What are the conditions for victory ? This has been a terribly executed war, from planning to present.
The Republicans don't seem to care about the fact that we're supposed to be a Democracy in this country. Apparently, the 2006 elections meant nothing.
I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when 2008 comes along and the American people get their political vengeance.
Tired right sider... please get informed.... only BLAIR was for the war....poll after poll before and after the war was launched showed the vast majority of the British PEOPLE were and are against the war. Same goes in Australia. But of course they were ignored. May I suggest spend less time posting under multiple screen names and acquire some actual, factual data?
James from Phoenix AZ:
Sorry- my post where I explained the death toll was deleted. The numbers were collated at Wikipedia. Please check/read articles referenced #27-32.
Also, I don't understand your last comment. Please explain yourself.
Im sorry John I should have asked you first, how many British people were suppprting the war. I didnt realize it was JUST Tony Blair. You seem to be a real cosmopolitan. And thank you and Dave for the compliments.
QUESTION:
Someone who is for an immediate withdrawal, please explain to me what will happen to Iraq if we withdraw all of our troops. I am willing to bet an enormous amount of civilian Iraqi's will die. Way more than are dying now. In addition, those (Iraqi civilians) who believed that we would stay and create a democracy will despise us even more, and, Iran or Syria will take over the country. Where is the good in any of that????? And if you believe that we shouldn't be involved in the Middle East at all, then you are an Isolationist, and, we should pull all of our troops out of every other country and bring them home.
ANSWER:
If we pull out you will see Iran and Syria sweep in and the Democrats will have a lot of blood on their hands.
We also will see our children back in that region ten years from now because we, as a nation, failed to do what's right and fight back fascist Islam.
The Iraq War may not have started as a fight against Al Qaeda, but it has turned into just that over the past few years. We're winning in Anbar province that is being pacified as we speak with the help of tribes who have turned against Al Qaeda in Iraq. To quit now that the tide is turning would be most stupid. In this one instance, I'm actually glad the U.S. Government is "going against the wishes" of the majority of Americans by keeping the troops out there. IMHO, most Americans haven't a clue as to what's going on Iraq anyway. They're too busy with their foolish entertainment and MySpace sites. Besides, the majority of TROOPS in Iraq don't want a pullout and we should trust their opinion since they're actually there.
Does anyone else recognize the republican gameplan for Iraq? The Senate republicans are doing everything they can to delay withdrawl from Iraq. They are doing this against the will of their constituents. The plan is to dump this war into the lap of the next President. That president (Obama?) will have to clean up the mess and pay the tab. In the meantime, come 2009, the republicans will point fingers and blame the Democrats for "losing in Iraq". All part of the twisted logic found in the republican gameplan.
Does anyone besides those serving in our Armed Forces, their SUPPORTIVE families and educated Republicans have a clue what is really going on over there? My husband joined the Marine Corps to serve his country even if it means dying for it. Let the men and women in our Armed Forces do their job. When it's time to bring them home, trust that they will be brought home by the Generals who have a realistic idea of what is actually going on over there!
One more thing. You can't support our troops but not support what they are doing. It's an oxymoron. Ask any Marine who has served overseas.
Semper Fi
USMC Wife, first of all, thank you and your husband for being willing to serve this country. I am proud of every man and woman serving in the Middle East. Men and women who are willing to serve, protect, and bring freedom to those around the world. Second, my prayers go out to God for you, your husband and those serving in the Middle East.
To those of you who are against the war, have any of you talked with any of our soldiers who have been in Iraq? I have. I spoke with a young man just before he left for his second tour (in which he died, but loved serving and knew the risk and was willing to take it.) I asked him if the Iraqi people wanted us out or if they were glad we were there. I was trying to see just how biased our news media is. He told me that by far, the majority of people in Iraq were glad the Americans were there and went out of their way to help. The violence that is taking place in Iraq now is not led by the Iraqi people,it's by the terrorists in Syria and Iran (proven by the media). Either support our troops and let them do their job until it's done or give up and let terrorists take over the Middle East and escalate their actions. You can't have it both ways.
USMC wife, God bless you.
American politics is literally in the toilet … and those who won’t admit it are the extremely wealthy who are benefiting, the marginally wealthy who think they are benefiting and those who simply try to be positive and ignore it. Over the last six plus years there has been an exhibition of complete control over one political party to facilitate the pursuit of a private agenda for the benefit of Special Interests and a select few, who then in return provide substantial financial and strong influential support. These efforts have been constant and include covert as well as overt activities while the average American, including the marginally wealthy, has been given only apathy, the costs, the problems and an abundance of subterfuge. The absolute gross dishonesty, the complete self-indulgence, the offensive and obnoxious arrogance and boldness and the unconscionable performance represent a sociopathic mentality that causes far more problems than just a political inequity – one example being the Iraq War. We can’t even expect to hold our corporate leaders to a high level of integrity if the example our politicians set is one of self-serving irresponsibility. All of this happens while the other political party just sits on their hands as if intimidated and afraid. The voters are the only hope to turn things around and to do so they must put their own individual biases and self-interests aside, to avoid once again being manipulated and deceived, and to instead demand honest, responsible and conscientious political performers. It is up to the voters to first honestly admit the truth so they can then expect better from the politicians.
Posted By USMC Wife, Pensacola, Florida: "One more thing. You can't support our troops but not support what they are doing. It's an oxymoron. Ask any Marine who has served overseas."
That isn't true at all. I can support and love my wife but hate the job she goes to everyday for any number of reasons.
It's very possible to support the troops and not support the war they're fighting. I personally support the troops and have a huge amount of respect for them considering they're fighting for the civil rights of people living in a completely different country. The reality is that the war is unwinnable unless the Iraqis are willing to settle their own differences.
I just find it funny that the democrats keep blaming their failures on the republicans when their own party members are voting against their war measures.
USMC wife,
Thank you for your messeage, I am in the US Army and I have been to Iraq. I find that I get asked by people all the time about whether we should be there but If I give my opinion people stop listening because it is not against being there. I agree with you on all accounts. It would be crazy to completly withdrawl. Instead of the congress doing this why don't they help make a realistic plan that doesn't have time tables. You can't have timetables in this war. Sadly some americans want the easy way out and didn't listen when the president said when this started that this was going to take time to establish and we are notorious for runnign away when the tough part comes, hence Somalia when Clinton pulled us out after soldiers died. No soldier wants to die, no mother wants their child to die but we are a volunteer army. I signed up and knew what I was getting by doing so and we are improving Iraq everyday but it is not reported because that would not help the bush bashers adgenda.
This is actually quite shocking that CNN is allowing non-liberals to post. I would simply like to say thank you to the Republicans for not allowing the USA to surrender to the far left and the terrorists. More importantly, thank you to all of our service men and women who serve and have served our country with honor, dignity and respect. God bless you all.
"Does anyone besides those serving in our Armed Forces, their SUPPORTIVE families and educated Republicans have a clue what is really going on over there?"
Posted By USMC Wife, Pensacola, Florida : September 21, 2007 5:06 pm
An educated Republican? Now there's an oxymoron. No, actually, an EDUCATED republican is... a Democrat!
Iraq is no threat to us.
Iran is no threat to us.
Do not vote for any future funding bills, Dems, and get the troops the hell out of there. If you continue to fund the war, you only prove that you have no interest in ending the occupation.
The right wings controllers of CNN must have fallen asleep. CNN actually got one headline right. Republicans block a bill, instead of the usual Democrats fail to pass a bill.
Also, to trekks. I only have one name, my name, which I am willing to let everybody see.
For the last couple days Canada's dollar has been worth the same as the American dollar. So maybe you all will finally listen up to what I am about to tell you. Bush has already destroyed your country. It's too late. He's run your economy into the ground. By January 20th, 2009 you won't have the financial power to build a Colt Single Action Army Revolver let alone new Ford-class supercarriers. Imagine a world when Americans start to talk and no one cares. In that silence, know it was the Republicans who lead you there. It's coming, and frankly I am looking forward to it. Will the Democratic Party do anything to stop it? No, they can't tie their shoes without asking Bush's permission. Cheers!
David from AZ wrote:
"It's very possible to support the troops and not support the war they're fighting."
Yeah, I guess you might be right and that may be possible. Sort of like smoking, but not inhaling, right?
But I guess that only happens, depending what your definition of "is" is.
Silly hippy. Go back to smoking dope and playing X-Box in your mom's basement. You clearly are not ready to sit at the grown-ups' table.