Senate
Passes $122 Billion More
For Iraq And Afghanistan Wars
By Kevin Zeese
31 March, 2007
Countercurrents.org
While
the headlines will read that the Senate voted to withdraw U.S. troops
in Iraq, the peace movement recognizes that the Senate bill will extend
the war not end it. The exit date in the bill is merely a goal for the
removal of combat troops, and there are large loopholes that would allow
a commander in chief to keep as many troops as s/he wants in Iraq. The
bill provides $122 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
– nearly $20 billion more requested by Bush.
The real issue now is whether
the Democrats will cave into President Bush’s threatened veto
by providing a funding bill with no exit requirements or whether they
will challenge the president further. If they cave they will have given
Bush new life – he will no longer be a lame duck, but rather will
remain “the decider.” The Congress will be seen as a “lame
Congress.” How they respond will be determined after their April
recess.
Many peace advocates held
a demonstration shortly after the vote to protest the extension, rather
than end of the war. The demonstration emphasized that the Democrats
have the power to end the war and highlighted the deaths of U.S. soldiers
and Iraqis with a series of gravestones and photos. The Hill described
the protest as an “occupation” of the Hart Senate office
building. See citation below for full article.
The vote was mostly a party-line
51-47 vote. Forty-eight Democrats and independent Bernard Sanders of
Vermont were joined by two Republicans, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and
Gordon Smith of Oregon, in voting for the measure. Opposed were 46 Republicans
and Connecticut independent-Democrat Joseph Lieberman. Senators Mike
Enzi (R-WY), and Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), did not vote.
Regarding getting out of
Iraq the bill requires beginning redeployment 120 days after the bill’s
passage and sets a goal – not a firm exit date – of withdrawal
of combat troops by March 31, 2008. Combat troops make up roughly half
the troops in Iraq which are projected to peak at 171,000 when the president’s
troop “surge” is completed. Thus, this could leave 80,000
non-combat troops in Iraq. However, the bill allows combat troops to
remain to protect Iraq’s borders, fight terrorists, and protect
the Embassy among other purposes. So, it is not clear how many troops
will actually be withdrawn if the bill’s “goal” is
met.
The bill now goes to a conference
committee with the House version and then to the White Hose for a promised
veto. The Congress will not respond to the veto until it returns from
its April recess.
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