Kerry: Vote Ends Indefinite US Role in Iraq...will fight Bush's promised veto every step of the way

[ProSense]

04/26/2007

Kerry Says Senate Vote Ends Indefinite US Role in Iraq's Civil War

WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) issued the following statement today, after the Senate voted 51-46 in favor of a military operation bill that supports troops in Iraq and sets a deadline for withdrawing them, beginning this fall. The vote comes a day after the House voted the same way, reflecting the broad Congressional opposition to the Administration's open-ended role in the Iraqi civil war.

"Nearly four years after George Bush declared "mission accomplished" in Iraq, it's time he starts to listen to Congress and the American people, accomplish the mission and bring our troops home," Senator Kerry said. "This vote shows that the clear majority in both the House and Senate are united and won't accept an indefinite role for American troops in a bloody civil war."


"The President's own generals have said time and time again that there is no military solution to the civil war in Iraq. Even today, we heard a similar message from Gen. David Petraeus, who has only been the top U.S. commander in Iraq for a few weeks and is already scaling back expectations. He said the war would require an enormous commitment over time and that the situation will get worse before it gets better. Our legislation changes direction in a responsible way, and no bluster from Vice President Dick Cheney is going to stop Congress from fighting to bring our brave men and women home. There is still a chance to change course - and we must change course. We will fight Bush's promised veto every step of the way."

In addition to the timeline for a phased withdrawal of troops, the legislation approved today includes a Kerry plan to pump an immediate $20 million into veterans care, along with additional assistance for low-income home energy assistance, public health and social services, state children's health programs and National Guard assistance.

[blm]

1. STICK TOGETHER DEMS! Thankyou, Sen. Kerry. You always stand up for

those Dems under attack by BushInc. and their mediawhores.

[Disturbed]

2. "won't accept an indefinite role for American troops

in a bloody civil war."

This is not true!

The majority of Dems do not call for all US Troops to be pulled out of Iraq. The Bill outlines that a undetermined number will stay indefinetly to train Iraqi Troops, to defend the Green Zone,the 14 US Bases and to fight al Q and the Sunni and Shi'ite Insurgency. The US will have at least 40K Troops and a large number of Mercs in Iraq well beyond '09.

[ProSense]

3. Exactly!

This is progress. I wonder where we would be now if all the Democrats had stood by Kerry in June 2006 to support a legally binding resolution.

[blm]

4. Where would we be if Dems stood with Kerry on Tora Bora, Rumsfeld's firing,

and helped counter the attacks from the swiftliars?

[ProSense]

5. Exactly!

Kerry pushed the Iraq debate and tried to pass a law (binding resolution) to get Bush out of Iraq. Today, everyone is jumping for joy about a bill that is only an advisory. Obama proclaims the war will be over if Bush signs it. It's a great step, tremendous even, but it's not legally binding, and getting Bush to adhere to the criteria is going to be another fight, providing he doesn't veto it.