Kerry Says Defense Spending Bill Offers Chance to End the War in Iraq

[ProSense]

07/10/2007

Kerry Says Defense Spending Bill Offers Chance to End the War in Iraq

Levin-Reed-Kerry Plan Sets Deadline for Troop Redeployment

WASHINGTON D.C. - Senator John Kerry today said that the Senate will vote again this week on whether to set a deadline for redeploying US troops from Iraq - a measure that Kerry originally introduced a year ago to help bring an end to the war. Kerry said the withdrawal plan will be voted on as an amendment to the Defense spending bill, which provides funds for the military's budget.


When the Senate voted on the deadline legislation in June 2006, the measure received just 13 votes. Since then, support for a deadline has grown. Kerry said he expects several Republicans to join with Democrats to insist that the White House finally agree to begin a phased withdrawal of most US troops out of Iraq.


"No more talk, no more excuses, it's time to vote and choose between the Bush escalation and a change of course. This is a test of whether Bush critics will still tow the line or whether they'll join us to establish a firm deadline to redeploy our troops out of Iraq and force Iraqis to finally stand up for Iraq," Kerry said. "It's stunning to me that this war costs American taxpayers $10 billion a month, and that even after the ill-advised escalation we still have little to show for the brave sacrifices our men and women have made in Iraq. This policy isn't working. We need to change course, we need to end this war."


Kerry also announced today that he would co-sponsor a measure written by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) that would use the power of the purse to change the U.S. military mission in Iraq by April 2008.

[Mass]

1. Happy to see he also co-sponsors Reid-Feingold.\nt

[Rydz777]

2. "No more talk. No more excuses." That's the ticket. Now let's see. nt

[politicasista]

3. Kick n/t

[Democrafty]

4. K & R n/t

[ProSense]

5. Kick! n/t

[ProSense]

6. Kick!

Of course, Criminal in Chief is threatening to veto.

[politicasista]

7. kick n/t

[ProSense]

8. Snowe embraces troop withdrawal bill

Snowe embraces troop withdrawal bill

By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer 26 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Sen. Olympia Snowe on Wednesday became the second Republican to embrace a bill ordering troops out of Iraq as President Bush's national security adviser tried to stop defections from the White House war policy.

Snowe, R-Maine, joined Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., in co-sponsoring a bill that would require troops to start leaving in 120 days. The bill also would end combat by April 30, 2008.

Snowe's endorsement is a shift for the senator, who in recent months opposed a similar measure. Snowe had said earlier that she'd been considering signing on to the measure because the situation in Iraq was growing worse.

"Frankly, given the fact that the Iraqi government isn't prepared to change its own political direction, we should be prepared to change course with resepect to our strategy," Snowe told reporters Tuesday.

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[wisteria]

9. Great news. The idea of a deadline was a good one in 06, it is good they are still pushing for this.

It is also the Levin,Reed, Kerry bill- glad it is being noted as such.