Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Politics

Democrats push own plan to withdraw troops from Iraq

By WES ALLISON
Published March 9, 2007

WASHINGTON - House Democratic leaders unveiled an ambitious plan Thursday to require the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by August 2008, or earlier if the Iraqi government fails to meet benchmarks for democracy, governance and security.

The plan, to be incorporated into President Bush's latest request of nearly $100-billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, also demands that troops meet the military's own standards for rest and readiness before being sent to Iraq unless the president waives those standards and tells Congress why.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., introduced his own Iraq resolution, which calls for the president to begin withdrawing U.S. troops within 120 days of enactment, with the goal of having them out of Iraq by March 2008. It also would require Bush to update Congress on the transition every 90 days.

Senate Democratic leaders say they enjoy strong support among their members but with a slim majority they would need Republican help to pass the resolution. Reid said he hopes the GOP will agree to debate it next week, but Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., quickly attacked the measure and said he needs time to confer with his colleagues.

The House version, unveiled after two weeks of internal negotiations, could pass without much GOP support, provided most Democrats back it, and House leaders were hopeful of that Thursday. It seeks to exert some congressional control over events in Iraq, while still giving the president responsibility for the conduct of the war for another year and a half.

It also would require congressional approval before Bush could attack Iran, and seeks to allocate billions of dollars more than the president requested for operations in Afghanistan and for military medical care.

By giving a certain date for withdrawal, Democratic leaders hope it assuages liberals who want the troops home soon - although key liberals announced their own plan Thursday to withdraw them by the end of the year.

With the waivers, Democratic leaders also hope to win conservative colleagues who don't like interfering with the commander-in-chief's authority.

House Republican leaders blasted the plan, and President Bush said he would veto it. Democrats hope support on their side will gel after more discussions, and after the full House Appropriations Committee takes up the measure -and likely tweaks it - next week. A full House vote could come by the end of the month.

"It's an appropriate bill both sides of the aisle could support - we support our troops, and we're demanding accountability from our president," said Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., a former captain in the 82nd Airborne Division and the only Iraq war veteran in Congress. "And, more importantly, we're demanding accountability of the Iraqis."

What they're saying

About new plans by House and Senate Democrats to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq next year.

"I'm opposed to anything that tries to manage the battlefield from the floor of Congress." Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores, the top Republican on the subcommittee that oversees defense spending.

"I'm opposed to playing general ... but we know that the policies set forth by the civilian leadership of this country are not working." Rep. Allen Boyd of Monticello, a leader of group of conservative Democrats.

"We believe victory is the only option in Iraq." House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

"We heard the American people and our military leaders. We heard our troops and their families. It's time to plan to end a war that this administration has failed to effectively prepare for and execute." Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

"The latest iteration to make winning the war more difficult." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

The Democrats' plan 

Getting Out

The House Democrats' proposal would force U.S. troops to leave Iraq by August 2008. But it would force PresThe House Democrats' proposal would force U.S. troops to leave Iraq by August 2008. But it would force President Bush to withdraw them earlier if the Iraqi government fails to meet several military and political benchmarks already set by the president, including disarming Shiite and Sunni militias; distributing Iraqi oil revenues among Kurdish, Sunni and Shiite regions; tweaking the constitution to encourage more participation by Sunni Muslims; and training and equipping sufficient Iraqi security forces.

The timetable

President Bush must certify that progress is being made. If progress is being made, U.S. troops may stay, with another progress report due in October. If no progress is being made, U.S. troops must leave Iraq within six months.

If Iraqis have reached the benchmarks, U.S. troops may stay. If not, they must leave Iraq within six months.

U.S. troops must leave Iraq, except for those assigned to protect U.S. interests or to assist training of Iraqi forces.

Conditions for deployment

The provision would put restrictions on President Bush's ability to send troops to war or keep them in Iraq - though he could choose to waive those conditions provided he tells Congress what he's doing and why:

Readiness: The Defense Department must certify that troops being sent to Iraq are equipped and trained to the military's own standards of being "fully mission capable."

Rest: Army, Army Reserve and National Guard troops may serve no longer than one year in Iraq, and they may not be sent back for at least one year. Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve forces may spend no more than 210 consecutive days in Iraq, and they must have at least 210 days between deployments.

Iran: President Bush must seek congressional approval before attacking Iran.

Funding

$91.5-billion President Bush's total request for supplemental war funding

$95.5-billion House Democrats' proposed allocation. The Democrats' proposal would fulfill the president's request for $2.3-billion to add 36,000 soldiers and 9,000 Marines to the U.S. military. Most of the extra money, plus dollars obtained by cutting various elements of the president's original request, would go toward operations in Afghanistan and troop housing, medical care and benefits for the families of dead or wounded soldiers, including:

$2.5-billion Training and equipment shortfalls for troops not deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan or other areas of operations to ensure the U.S. military can meet new or emerging threats. This money would be set aside in a new account called the Strategic Reserve Readiness Fund.

$1.4-billion Fully fund military housing for 2007.

$1-billion Operations in Afghanistan, where many members of Congress worry the Taliban and al-Qaida are regrouping.

$311-million Additional funding on top of $1.4-billion requested by the president for new mine-resistant vehicles.

$1.7-billion Military medical programs, including $450-million for traumatic brain injury care and research; $450-million for post-traumatic stress disorder care and research; $62-million for amputee care; $14.8-million for burn care; and $13-million for caregiver support programs.

To help offset the costs of the additional funding, the measure would reduce funding for several programs requested by the president, including the Navy's ship and aircraft maintenance program; new joint-strike fighters; and Air Force base operations support.

Source: House Appropriations Committee

[Last modified March 9, 2007, 02:08:54]