Read a Pacific Northwest, liberal perspective on world, national, and local politics. From majestic Redmond, Washington - the Northwest Progressive Institute Official Blog.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Senate Democrats pledge to apply "relentless" pressure to Bush on Iraq

This is exactly what our elected officials need to be saying...and doing:
After Republicans blocked a Senate debate for a second time, Democrats said Saturday they will drop efforts to pass a nonbinding resolution opposing President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq and instead will offer a flurry of anti-war legislation "just like in the days of Vietnam."

The tough talk came one day after the House passed its anti-Iraq resolution and as the GOP used a procedural vote to stop the Senate from debating the 21,500-troop increase.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said his party would be "relentless."

"There will be resolution after resolution, amendment after amendment ... just like in the days of Vietnam," Schumer said. "The pressure will mount, the president will find he has no strategy, he will have to change his strategy and the vast majority of our troops will be taken out of harm's way and come home."

Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said the vote showed that Senate sentiment was running against the president.

"A majority of the United States Senate just voted on Iraq, and a majority of the United States Senate is against the escalation in Iraq," Reid said as he withdrew the resolution.
What's the matter, Republicans? Afraid of an up or down vote on a non binding resolution? Well, no matter. The pressure will be amplified and Republicans will pay a political price for not holding Bush accountable.

America has had enough of this disastrous conflict. Our troops are too important to be sent over to die in Iraq based on lies and faulty intelligence, and too valuable to kept over there on false pretenses and other sorry excuses the administration continuously offers to justify our presence there.

The American people are opposed to escalation. It is time to bring our troops home, not increase our the size of our force in Iraq.

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