Posted by
JBDavis on Thursday, April 26, 2007 2:19:32 PM
Well
it passed. I'm not surprised. Just disgusted. The vote was 51-46. Looks like its time for Bush to dust off the veto pen.
WASHINGTON — A defiant Democratic-controlled Senate passed legislation Thursday that would require the start of troop withdrawals from Iraq by Oct. 1, propelling Congress toward a historic veto showdown with President Bush on the war.
The 51-46 vote was largely along party lines. Like passage of the same bill in the House of Representatives a day earlier, the Senate vote fell far short of the two-thirds margin needed to overturn Bush's threatened veto. Nevertheless, the legislation is the first binding challenge to the war that Democrats have managed to send to Bush since they reclaimed control of both houses of Congress in January.
"The solution is simple: Take out the surrender date, take out the pork, and get the funds to our troops," said Republican leader Mitch McConnell.
Independent Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who normally votes with the Democrats, sided with Republicans in opposing the bill.
"We delude ourselves if we think we can wave a legislative wand and suddenly our troops in the field will be able to distinguish between Al Qaeda terrorism or sectarian violence. Or that Iraqis will suddenly settle their political differences because our troops are leaving," Lieberman said.
Its sad that politics have taken a front seat to patriotism.
Update:
Iraqi spokesman responds to Senate vote:
BAGHDAD - An Iraqi government spokesman criticized the U.S. Senate vote to begin withdrawing U.S. troops by Oct. 1.
"We see some negative signs in the decision because it sends wrong signals to some sides that might think of alternatives to the political process," Ali al-Dabbagh told The Associated Press.
"Coalition forces gave lots of sacrifices and they should continue their mission, which is building Iraqi security forces to take over," al-Dabbagh said. "We see (it) as a loss of four years of sacrifices."