6.20.2006
Democrats Want Iraq Pullout to Begin Quickly (CNN.com)
Levin: Proposal is not a 'timetable'
Monday, June 19, 2006; Posted: 10:24 p.m. EDT (02:24 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Democrats offered an amendment Monday that would demand that a pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq begin this year.
The plan, the product of weeks of intense negotiations between Senate Democrats and Minority Leader Harry Reid, is designed to give Democrats a unified position on Iraq as the November midterm elections near.
The amendment would:
# Begin the "phased redeployment" or pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq in 2006.
# Require the administration to submit a plan by the end of 2006 for continued phased redeployment beyond 2006.
# Transform the role of troops left in the country to a "limited mission" of training and logistical support for Iraqi security forces, protection of U.S. personnel and facilities, and targeted counterterrorism operations.
The Democrats' plan will be offered to a major defense bill that the Senate took up last week.
President Bush, speaking at a Senate Republican fundraising dinner, said that he welcomed the debate but vowed that there would be "no early withdrawal" from Iraq "so long as we run the Congress and occupy the White House."
(More ... CNN.com - Democrats want Iraq pullout to begin quickly - Jun 19, 2006) ¶ 19:41
Monday, June 19, 2006; Posted: 10:24 p.m. EDT (02:24 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Democrats offered an amendment Monday that would demand that a pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq begin this year.
The plan, the product of weeks of intense negotiations between Senate Democrats and Minority Leader Harry Reid, is designed to give Democrats a unified position on Iraq as the November midterm elections near.
The amendment would:
# Begin the "phased redeployment" or pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq in 2006.
# Require the administration to submit a plan by the end of 2006 for continued phased redeployment beyond 2006.
# Transform the role of troops left in the country to a "limited mission" of training and logistical support for Iraqi security forces, protection of U.S. personnel and facilities, and targeted counterterrorism operations.
The Democrats' plan will be offered to a major defense bill that the Senate took up last week.
President Bush, speaking at a Senate Republican fundraising dinner, said that he welcomed the debate but vowed that there would be "no early withdrawal" from Iraq "so long as we run the Congress and occupy the White House."
(More ... CNN.com - Democrats want Iraq pullout to begin quickly - Jun 19, 2006) ¶ 19:41
