[Sosfbay-discuss] Dems won't try to limit Bush's power to attack Iran (AP)

[JamBoi]

 Dems won't try to limit Bush's power to attack Iran (AP)
Date:	 Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:14:40 -0700 (PDT)
 
Dems abandon war authority provision

By DAVID ESPO and MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press
Writers 
March 12, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070312/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq


WASHINGTON - Top House Democrats retreated Monday
from an attempt to limit President Bush's
authority for taking military action against Iran
as the leadership concentrated on a looming
confrontation with the White House over the Iraq
war. 

Officials said Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other
members of the leadership had decided to strip
from a major military spending bill a requirement
for Bush to gain approval from Congress before
moving against Iran.

Conservative Democrats as well as lawmakers
concerned about the possible impact on       
Israel had argued for the change in strategy.

The developments occurred as Democrats pointed
toward an initial test vote in the House
Appropriations Committee on Thursday on the
overall bill, which would require the withdrawal
of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by Sept. 1, 2008,
if not earlier. The measure provides nearly $100
billion to pay for fighting in two wars, and
includes more money than the president requested
for operations in Afghanistan and what Democrats
called training and equipment shortages.

The White House has issued a veto threat against
the bill, and Vice President Dick Cheney attacked
its supporters in a speech, declaring they "are
telling the enemy simply to watch the clock and
wait us out."

House GOP Leader John Boehner of Ohio issued a
statement that said Democrats shouldn't count on
any help passing their legislation. "Republicans
will continue to stand united in this debate, and
will oppose efforts by Democrats to undermine the
ability of General Petraeus and our troops to
achieve victory in the Global War on Terror," he
said.

Top Democrats had a different perspective.

Pelosi issued a written statement that said the
vice president's remarks prove that "the
administration's answer to continuing violence in
Iraq is more troops and more treasure from the
American people."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said
in a statement that America was less safe today
because of the war. The president "must change
course, and it's time for the Senate to demand he
do it," he added.

The Iran-related proposal stemmed from a desire
to make sure Bush did not launch an attack
without going to Congress for approval, but drew
opposition from numerous members of the rank and
file in a series of closed-door sessions last
week.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said in an
interview there is widespread fear in Israel
about Iran, which is believed to be seeking
nuclear weapons and has expressed unremitting
hostility about the Jewish state.

"It would take away perhaps the most important
negotiating tool that the U.S. has when it comes
to Iran," she said of the now-abandoned
provision.

"I didn't think it was a very wise idea to take
things off the table if you're trying to get
people to modify their behavior and normalize it
in a civilized way," said Rep. Gary Ackerman of
New York.

Several officials said there was widespread
opposition to the proposal at a closed-door
meeting last week of conservative and moderate
Democrats, who said they feared tying the hands
of the administration when dealing with an
unpredictable and potentially hostile regime in
Tehran.

Public opinion has swung the way of Democrats on
the issue of the war. More than six in 10
Americans think the conflict was a mistake — the
largest number yet found in AP-Ipsos polling.

But Democrats have struggled to find a compromise
that can satisfy both liberals who oppose any
funding for the military effort and conservatives
who do not want to unduly restrict the commander
in chief.

"This supplemental should be about supporting the
troops and providing what they need," said Rep.
Dan Boren, D-Okla., on Monday upon returning from
a trip to Iraq. Boren said he plans to oppose any
legislation setting a clear deadline for troops
to leave.

In his speech, Cheney chided lawmakers who are
pressing for tougher action on Iran to oppose the
president on the Iraq War. 

"It is simply not consistent for anyone to demand
aggressive action against the menace posed by the
Iranian regime while at the same time acquiescing
in a retreat from Iraq that would leave our worst
enemies dramatically emboldened and Israel's best
friend, the United States, dangerously weakened,"
he said.

___________________

JamBoi
Jammy The Sacred Cow Slayer

"Live humbly, laugh often and love unconditionally" (anon)
http://dailyJam.blogspot.com


 
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