Lawmakers Tout New Bill Rebuking Bush's Iraq Strategy

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Now we get to see who wants to be reelected in 2008 and who doesn't.

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Lawmakers Tout New Bill Rebuking Bush's Iraq Strategy
by Stephanie Griffith 14 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US lawmakers on both sides of the US Senate drummed up support for a compromise bill slamming a hike in US forces in Iraq, saying it was the best chance of forcing President George W. Bush to drop his unpopular plan.



A British military helicopter flies overhead as US Army soldiers from the 5-20 Infantry Division stand beside their Stryker armored vehicles (not seen), in central Baghdad. US lawmakers on both sides of the US Senate drummed up support for a compromise bill slamming a hike in US forces in Iraq, saying it was the best chance of forcing President George W. Bush to drop his unpopular plan.(AFP/David Furst)


After days of hardknuckle bargaining, top congressional Democrats and key Republicans finally agreed late Wednesday on a bill that censures Bush's plan to boost US forces in the war zone with another 21,000 troops.

The breakthrough measure, likely to garner wide support, means the White House could face an embarrassing -- but ultimately symbolic -- vote of no-confidence when the bill hits the Senate floor next week.

"Now we have a real opportunity for the Senate to speak clearly. Every senator will have a chance to vote on whether he or she supports or disagrees with the president's plan to send more troops into the middle of a civil war," said Senator Joe Biden, one of the key authors of the motion.

The bill builds "bipartisan opposition to his plan, because that was the best way to get him to reconsider," said Biden.

"We ought to be drawing down in Iraq, not ramping up," added the longtime Democratic senator, who on Wednesday formally announced his intention to run for the White House in the 2008 elections.

Republican Senator John Warner (news, bio, voting record), who had penned an earlier motion said he thought the fusion of the two bills had the best chance of swaying the president to change course in Iraq.

"We urge the president to look at all options to charge the Iraqis with a greater and greater degree of the new plan in Baghdad," Warner told a Senate hearing.
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Casey: Only half of troop boost needed
By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. commander in
Iraq told a Senate panel Thursday that improving security in Baghdad would take fewer than half as many extra troops as President Bush has chosen to commit.



Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., answers a question during the Senate Armed Services committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, on his nomination to become Army Chief of Staff. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)


Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his nomination to be Army chief of staff, Gen. George Casey said he had asked for two additional Army brigades, based on recommendations of his subordinate commanders. Bush announced Jan. 10 that he would send five extra brigades as part of a buildup that would total 21,500 soldiers and Marines.

Asked by Sen. John Warner (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., why he had not requested the full five extra brigades that Bush is sending, Casey said, "I did not want to bring one more American soldier into Iraq than was necessary to accomplish the mission."

With many in Congress opposing or skeptical of Bush's troop buildup, Casey did not say he opposed the president's decision. He said the full complement of five brigades would give U.S. commanders in Iraq additional, useful flexibility.

"In my mind, the other three brigades should be called forward after an assessment has been made on the ground" about whether they are needed to ensure success in Baghdad, Casey said later.

Even so, Casey's comments seemed put distance between his views and those of Bush and some lawmakers like Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., who have questioned whether Bush's troop increase will be enough.
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