Senators Set Iraq Deadline in War Bill Ending U.S. Combat Missions There in Just Over a Year.

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Senators Set Iraq Deadline in War Bill


Wednesday March 21, 2007 9:16 PM

AP Photo BAG101

By ANNE FLAHERTY

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democrats have drafted a $121.5 billion war spending bill that would direct President Bush to begin bringing home troops from Iraq with the goal of ending U.S. combat missions there in just over a year.

The provision is similar to a resolution the Senate narrowly rejected last week. It failed on a 50-48 vote, falling 12 votes shy of the 60 needed to pass, after President Bush vowed to veto the legislation.

``United States troops should not be policing a civil war, and the current conflict in Iraq requires principally a political solution,'' states a copy of the draft bill, obtained by The Associated Press. Like the bill the Senate defeated, it would set a nonbinding goal of pulling out combat troops by March 31, 2008.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., released details to panel members Wednesday in anticipation of a committee vote on the bill on Thursday.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6498073,00.html


http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

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1. United States troops should not be policing a civil war

. . . states a copy of the draft bill

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2. The measure would require Bush to begin removing U.S. combat troops within four months of the bill's

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1601540,00.html

Byrd's bill . . . didn't he vote AGAINST the original IWR?

"21 Democrats, led by Senator Byrd and joined by Independent Senator Jeffords, voted no on the IWR."
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/110305I.shtml