Lieberman Rejects New Democratic Compromise on Iraq

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20070907/pl_bloomberg/advafcoy6m4

Lieberman Rejects New Democratic Compromise on Iraq

Janine Zacharia Fri Sep 7, 6:27 PM ET

Sept. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Senator Joseph Lieberman opposed a compromise measure suggested by top Senate Democrats that would mandate a starting date for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq while imposing no deadline for completing the pullout.


Senator Carl Levin, the Michigan Democrat who is chairman of the Armed Services Committee, has proposed the less- restrictive measure as a compromise move to entice Republicans and others who, while skeptical of the war, haven't backed earlier Democratic proposals to force a withdrawal.

Lieberman, a Connecticut independent and ardent supporter of a continued troop presence in Iraq, said he won't support Levin's plan. ``The answer is a respectful no,'' Lieberman, 65, said in an interview on Bloomberg Television's ``Political Capital with Al Hunt'' scheduled to air this weekend.

Lieberman's opposition makes it less likely that Levin's measure, co-sponsored with Rhode Island Democrat Jack Reed, could muster the 60 Senate votes needed to defeat a threatened Republican filibuster or the 67 required to override a presidential veto.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. Lieberman's desperation to remain relevant is beyond disgusting

:puke: MKJ

[mac56]

2. How I despise this man.

Why he doesn't just admit he's a Republican and get on with life is beyond me.

If he'd just acknowledge and accept what he is, things would go so much better.

[rodeodance]

4. Congress has yet to successfully force any restrictions on the troop presence in Iraq.

Congress has yet to successfully force any restrictions on the troop presence in Iraq. Two previous measures Levin sponsored with Reed to try to mandate a troop reduction failed to secure the necessary votes.

Most recently, a Levin-Reed proposal that would have required most troops to be withdrawn by April 30, 2008, fell eight votes short of the 60 needed to end debate and move to final consideration in July.

Petraeus Report

Army General David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker next week will give a report that many lawmakers have said will determine whether more Republicans join Democrats in demanding a timetable to withdraw the 168,000 American military personnel in the country.

A study, produced by a commission headed by U.S. military commanders, said yesterday the U.S. could start withdrawing some troops from Iraq early next year if Iraq's army continues to improve its combat capability. Iraq's armed forces were dismantled in May 2003 after the U.S. invasion and are being gradually reconstituted.

[mac56]

7. soooo....Joe's off the hook, then?

???

[minnesota_liberal]

3. He's not a Democrat, so who gives a damn?

It's the same thing as having one of the Bush toadies like Norm Coleman "reject" a Dem idea. Sorry, but you don't have the authority to "reject" it and nobody cares anyway.

[rodeodance]

5. I care, in the sence that it once again will make thing even MORE difficult for the Dems!!

[Bitwit1234]

6. Who is the guy in the old cartoons with the mumbling sqeaky voice.

that's who he reminds me of.

[otohara]

8. No Shit

Thanks Bloomberg, we already knew he would.