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Politics

Defiant House votes for pullout from Iraq

By ANITA KUMAR
Published March 24, 2007

WASHINGTON - A sharply divided U.S. House sent a strong signal to the White House on Friday by voting to force American troops to leave Iraq by September 2008.

Democrats admit the bill likely will not survive the more conservative Senate and a veto by President Bush is certain. But they insisted the victory lay in a bold message that they hope will generate enough pressure to eventually end the war.

"The American people see the reality of this war. The president does not," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "The American people want a new direction in Iraq. ... The Congress will provide it."

The vote marks the House's first binding challenge to the Iraq war since it began four years ago, and pushed Congress one step closer to a constitutional showdown with the president.

"Democrats believe that the longer they can delay funding for our troops, the more likely they are to force me to accept restrictions on our commanders, an artificial timetable for withdrawal," Bush said after the vote at a White House event with veterans and their families. "This is not going to happen."

House members voted 218-212, almost entirely along party lines with 14 Democrats voting against the bill and two Republicans - Wayne Gilchrest of Maryland and Walter Jones of North Carolina - voting in favor.

Florida's 25-member congressional delegation voted along party lines.

Democratic leaders spent the week scrambling to find the last few votes needed for victory. They secured their win only after members of the liberal wing - some of whom had complained that the bill would not end the war quickly enough - agreed to support it.

"Despite my steadfast opposition, I have told the speaker that I would work with her to obtain the needed votes ... but that in the end I must vote my conscience," said Rep. Diane Watson, a California Democrat and member of the Out of Iraq Caucus.

By Friday morning, House leaders were confident they had the votes to win, celebrating even before the lunchtime vote in a closed-door meeting some described as a pep rally.

The $124-billion spending bill would pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and require that combat troops leave Iraq by fall 2008. The withdrawal could begin as soon as July 1 if the Iraqi government fails to meet certain political and military benchmarks.

The seriousness of the issue led to several emotional speeches during the House debate. Some were met with applause, even standing ovations, by colleagues and members of the packed House gallery.

"What we're trying to do in this legislation is force the Iraqis to fight their own war," said Rep. John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat who has led opposition to the war.

Republicans' staunch opposition was mostly based on the bill's timetable for withdrawal, which they said would tie the hands of military commanders and embolden insurgents after the United States left Iraq.

"The stakes in Iraq are too high and the sacrifices made by our military personnel and their families too great to be content with anything but success," said Republican Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo.

They also complained about their inability to introduce amendments and the $20-billion of special projects added to a bill that includes millions for spinach growers, peanut farmers and fishermen.

"The U.S. House took a harmful and dangerous step today in the conduct of the ongoing global war for freedom," said Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville. "The priority of this House should be to fund the troops in harm's way, not spend billions to bail out spinach and peanut farmers."

Democrats dismissed the procedural issues, saying they needed to fulfill the mandate given to them last November when Americans gave them control of Congress for the first time in a dozen years.

"Today, we are demanding accountability," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.

Congress has so far provided more than $500-billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including about $350-billion for Iraq alone, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. More than 3,200 U.S. troops have died in Iraq since war began in March 2003.

The House bill exceeds Bush's most recent $103-billion request for war spending. On Friday, the president again asked Congress to send him a straight spending bill and warned lawmakers that a delay beyond April 15 would result in the slowdown of troop training and equipment repair.

A Senate committee passed a similar, but weaker, bill earlier this week. Republicans vowed to remove the troop withdrawal language when it comes to the full Senate.

A vote could come as early as Monday.

Anita Kumar can be reached at akumar@sptimes.com or 202-463-0576.

Fast Facts:

How they voted

Yes: Reps. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa; Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton; Tim Mahoney, D-Venus; Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton; Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello; Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston; Kendrick Meek, D-Miami; Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar; Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville

No: Reps. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores; Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor; Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville; Adam Putnam, R-Bartow; Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key; Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla; Ander Crenshaw, R-Jacksonville; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami; Dave Weldon, R-Palm Bay; Ric Keller, R-Orlando; Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala; Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Miami; Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami; John Mica, R-Winter Park; Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers; Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo

[Last modified March 24, 2007, 02:17:44]