Subject: Biden-Brownback Legislation Passes Senate - Again

[gateley]

(Maybe this time Bush will sign it and we can begin bringing our troops home!)

Biden-Brownback Measure Calling for the U.S. to Support a Federal Iraq Passes as Part of the Department of Defense Conference Report
January 22, 2008 -- Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate passed legislation today, sponsored by Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), which calls for the United States to support a political settlement in Iraq based on a federal system of government.

The Biden-Brownback measure – which passed as part of the Department of Defense Conference report – has garnered overwhelming bipartisan support in both Houses of Congress and would require a major strategic shift in the Administration’s Iraq policy. President Bush vetoed the original Department of Defense Authorization report in December because of an unrelated issue that Congress subsequently addressed.

“We have both sides of the aisle, both sides of the U.S. Capitol, saying to the President: abandon this flawed strategy of yours in Iraq and change course. Everyone agrees that there is no pure military solution in Iraq. There has to be a political solution and that begs the question: what is it? Congress has again answered that question with one voice” said Senator Joe Biden. (snip)

Senator Biden has also been a long-time advocate of barring the construction of any permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. In 2006, he successfully passed two amendments as part of the Defense Authorization bill and Defense Appropriations bill, which prohibited using any funds to build permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq or to exercise American control over Iraqi oil. Both bills were signed into law, marking the first clear sign from Congress that the American military presence in Iraq would not be open-ended. Last year (2007), the Senate Armed Services Committee included Sen. Biden’s effort into the original legislation.

more.... http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48741175_biden-brown...

[frogcycle]

1. nice to have SOME public servants

tending to business while the catfights and squabbles rage

[gateley]

2. I was especially happy to see this because any action regarding Iraq seems

to be stalled. And meanwhile, people keep dying.

I have a sense of freedom now that Joe's not in the race -- I can just bypass the squabbles.

Good to see you! :hug:

[vssmith]

7. Joe just returned from the catfight

[1corona4u]

3. Let's hope he does, but I don't think he will....

I keep thinking of things Joe said in his book about Bush...

[gateley]

4. Yeah, I just automatically assume Bush will always do the worst thing. nt

[Mz Pip]

5. Good luck with that.

It won't pass and if it does Bush will veto it...

because it just might work. Wouldn't want that. Then we'd be able to leave. Wouldn't want that.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[troubleinwinter]

6. Dammit. This is exactly the sort of thing

that made Biden my candidate.

I will take some comfort that he is still a (truly great) United States Senator.

[jillan]

8. Biden and Dodd didn't waste any time getting right back to work.

Too bad they are back in the Senate so early, but at the same time I'm glad they are still fighting for us.