Senate leader to get behind Feingold plan - War funding would cease in March 2008

[swag]

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Washington - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will announce today that he has endorsed a plan by Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold to end funding for the Iraq war by March 31 next year.

The measure goes well beyond the target withdrawal date that the Senate narrowly approved last week as part of an emergency war spending bill, and it is part of what Feingold describes as a legislative strategy by Democrats of steadily ratcheting up their anti-war proposals.

"This is the next significant step toward ending this war," Feingold said in an interview.

In a statement he planned to release today, Reid (D-Nev.) said that if President Bush vetoes a war spending bill over the issue of timelines, Reid will make sure that Feingold's more far-reaching measure is voted on in the next Senate work period.


Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=585082

[papau]

1. Excellent :-)

:-)

[Benhurst]

2. Has he checked with Obama?

[TwilightGardener]

3. Obama's realistic. Feingold is idealistic. I like them both.

[Benhurst]

7. Yeah, I guess it's "realistic" to vote to allow the banking industry to

charge whatever interest rates it wants. We wouldn't want to limit them to a mere 30%, would we?

As a native of Illinois, I supported Obama for his senate run. I have found his record in the Senate disappointing. I guess it was too much to hope he would be more progressive than Durbin, or even as progressive, for that matter.

[AndyTiedye]

8. Feingold is the Real Deal. Obama, not so much

[bdamomma]

4. it is way beyond time to slam down *'s deadly war, time for

the Congress to stand up against this maniac.

[Vidar]

5. About time someone followed Feingold.

[goodhue]

6. excellent

[ScottGregory]

9. this bill is a smokescreen, has "escape clause" whole article below

begin quote section>>>>
(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
...end quote>>>

Now what do you think that exception (2) allows. Looks to me like it allows the U.S. to stay in Iraq and long as it is in Iraq...as long as there is/are "infrastructure and personnel" to defend. That means the embassy fortress and the 4 huge military bases...

This bill is not a get out of Iraq bill, IMO

---SG


Washington D.C. -­ U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced today that they are introducing 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.

"I am pleased to cosponsor Senator Feingold’s important legislation," Reid said. "I believe it is consistent with the language included in the supplemental appropriations bill passed by a bipartisan majority of the Senate. If the President vetoes the supplemental appropriations bill and continues to resist changing course in Iraq, I will work to ensure this legislation receives a vote in the Senate in the next work period."

"I am delighted to be working with the Majority Leader to bring our involvement in the Iraq war to an end," Feingold said. "Congress has a responsibility to end a war that is opposed by the American people and is undermining our national security. By ending funding for the President’s failed Iraq policy, our bill requires the President to safely redeploy our troops from Iraq."

The language of the 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